Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, 3/18/2021 NHL Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2021

Location: PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC

TV: Fox Sports Carolina

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+145) Hurricanes (-175)

James Reimer and the Carolina Hurricanes (20-7-1) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (11-12-7) at PNC Arena on Thursday. The Hurricanes open this matchup at -175 while the Blue Jackets are coming in at +145. The O/U has been set at 5.5.

The Blue Jackets were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 2-1 loss against the Stars their last time out. The Corsi for the Blue Jackets came in at 53 and the Corsi against was at 58 meaning they had a Corsi rate of 47.7%. The offensive zone starts for them were rated at 41.2% and their PDO was 100.3 in this game. Columbus compiled 2 penalty minutes for this matchup. The Blue Jackets had a below average offensive performance in the loss. Their Fenwick was 40 and the Fenwick against was 39, giving them a Fenwick percentage of 50.6%. They totaled 24 face-off victories at even strength and were beaten on 14 attempts to win the face-off. Additionally, they had 1 attempt on the power play but weren't able to score. In the outing, they earned a goal on 1 out of the 30 shots they put on goal.

In terms of their scoring capabilities, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 79 goals (20th in the NHL) on the year and have conceded 96. For the current campaign, they have scored 29 points and their points percentage sits at .483. Columbus is sitting with 75 power play opportunities and they have notched 12 goals during those advantages, giving them a percentage of 16.00%. While at even strength, the Blue Jackets have surrendered 77 goals while getting 67 of their own. Columbus has attempted 869 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.1%. The Blue Jackets have had 937 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .898. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have earned 70 power play opportunities (28th in the NHL) and have scored 19 goals in those attempts.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Joonas Korpisalo. In his career, Korpisalo has recorded 69 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .504. His save percentage is .907 in his 8,357 minutes guarding the cage. Korpisalo has seen 4,230 shots against him and has recorded 3,835 saves. The opposition has notched 395 goals versus Korpisalo in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 2.84. He has accumulated an overall record of 67-52-19 and he started in 137 games. Korpisalo has been involved in 149 contests during his professional hockey career.

In their last contest, Carolina played the Red Wings in an outing where the Hurricanes were on the wrong end of the score by a final score of 4-2. Their PDO at even strength was 92 and their oZS percentage was 56.0%. They had 3 power play opportunities in this contest and recorded 1 out of those tries. Their Fenwick rate was 62.3% by accumulating a Fenwick of 38 and the Red Wings ending the game with a 23 Fenwick at even strength. The Hurricanes had 2 goals out of the 37 shots on goal they tried. Carolina went home with a 64.5% Corsi rate. These Corsi stats tell us the story of the kind of game Carolina played and it could be said that this team has had better games.

The Hurricanes have racked up 64 goals at even strength and 29 goals (1st in the NHL) while on the power play. Carolina has put up 885 shots (11th in hockey) and has a shot percentage of 10.51%, while allowing their opponents 813 shots. This season, the Carolina Hurricanes have 93 goals, 41 points, as well as a points percentage of .732. They have earned 91 opportunities on the power play and they have accumulated a power play rate of 31.87%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 81.82% on their opponents 99 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 91.1%. They have allowed 72 goals to be scored by of a combination of 54 goals at even strength and 18 goals while they were shorthanded.

On the other side of the ice you will find James Reimer patrolling the crease. He has compiled 10,077 saves out of 11,034 shots taken against him, giving him a save % of .913. Reimer has accrued a career mark of 170-130-41 and has been in goal for 379 games. He has started in 345 games and has accumulated 20,541 mins. Reimer's quality start rate is 50.7% and he has 175 quality starts in his professional career. His opposition is averaging 2.80 goals per contest and he has conceded 957 goals in total.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Carolina (-175) and under 5.5 goals

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