Nashville Predators vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 5/5/2021 NHL Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Nashville Predators vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Predators (-172) Blue Jackets (+152)

Juuse Saros and the Nashville Predators (29-22-2) head to Nationwide Arena on Wednesday where they'll take on the Columbus Blue Jackets (16-25-12). The Blue Jackets open this contest at +152 while the Predators are coming in at -172. The O/U opens at 5.

The Predators were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets in their previous outing. Their offensive zone starts sat at 45.3% and they had a PDO at even strength of 102.3 in this one. They amassed 22 face-off victories when at even strength and were beaten on 18 opportunities to control the puck. Their Fenwick was 40 and the Fenwick Against sat at 32, meaning the had a Fenwick percentage of 55.6%. The Corsi for the Predators was 47 and the Corsi against was at 42 which means they had a Corsi percentage of 52.8%. Nashville accumulated 8 minutes in the box for this game. They also had 4 power play tries and were able to notch 1 goal. The Predators had a good offensive performance in this win. For the game, they tallied a score on 4 of the 38 shots they put on goal.

Nashville Predators opponents have totaled 164 power play opportunities (5th in the league) and have scored 41 goals in those chances. The Predators have had 1,674 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .911. Nashville has attempted 1,590 shots and has a shot percentage of 8.9%. When playing at even strength, the Predators have conceded 108 goals while having 114 on offense. Nashville comes into tonight with 151 power play chances and they have added 27 goals out of those tries, garnering them a rate of 17.88%. For the current campaign, they have earned 60 points and their points percentage comes in at .566. When discussing their scoring, the Nashville Predators have racked up 141 goals (20th in the National Hockey League) on the season and have given up 149.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Juuse Saros. Saros has taken the ice for 153 games over the course of his hockey career. He has compiled a mark of 75-46-17 and he has gotten the start in 137 games. The opposition has notched 357 goals against Saros in his pro hockey career and his goals against average per game is 2.50. Saros has seen 4,484 shots against him and he has 4,127 saves. He has a save percentage of .920 in his 8,562 mins between the pipes. Over the course of his pro career, Saros has 83 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .606.

In their loss to Nashville, Columbus wrapped up this game with a 47.2% Corsi rating. This Corsi rating is telling of the kind of game that Columbus had and you might say they looked run of the mill in this one. They earned a Fenwick percentage of 44.4% by amassing a Fenwick of 32 and the Predators finishing with a 40 Fenwick. Their PDO was 98 and their percentage of oZS was 54.7%. The Blue Jackets had 3 goals out of the 32 shots on goal they attempted. They had 3 power play attempts in this contest and converted 1 out of those opportunities.

Columbus has attempted 1,538 shots (16th in the league) and has earned a shot percentage of 8.00%, while allowing the other team 1,710 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 79.84% on their opponents 129 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.9%. They have recorded 114 power play chances and they have earned a power play rate of 14.91%. The Blue Jackets have earned 106 goals at even strength and 17 goals (29th in the league) while on the power play. They have granted a total of 173 goals to be scored by of a combination of 147 goals at even strength and 26 goals while they had less men on the ice. On the campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets are sitting with 123 goals, 44 points, and a points percentage of .415.

Across the rink you are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins between the pipes. Merzlikins is the owner of a career mark of 20-21-13 and has played in 60 games. Merzlikins' quality start rate is 56.6% and he has made 30 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has tallied 1,574 saves out of 1,712 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save percentage of .919. His opponents are averaging 2.55 goals/game and he has surrendered 138 goals altogether. He has been a starter 53 games and has racked up 3,252 mins.

Who will win tonight's hockey game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Nashville (-172)

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