Nashville Predators vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 10/20/2022 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Nashville Predators vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Nationwide Arena is the location where the Columbus Blue Jackets will go up against the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

The Nashville Predators had a decent effort after finishing in a 3-3 tie against the Kings in their previous outing. The Predators played like an average offensive team in this game. In the game, they scored on 3 out of the 32 shots they tried. Furthermore, they had 5 attempts on the power play but weren't able to score. Nashville accumulated 18 penalty minutes in this outing.

Nashville Predators opponents have totaled 22 power play opportunities (2nd in professional hockey) and have tallied 4 goals in those chances. The Predators have had 150 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .900. Nashville has taken 144 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 8.3%. At even strength, the Predators have surrendered 11 goals while notching 11 as an offensive unit. Nashville skates onto the rink with 21 power play chances and they have scored 1 goal out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 4.76%. For the season, the have a total of 5 points and their points percentage is sitting at .500. Regarding scoring goals, the Nashville Predators have accounted for 12 goals (12th in hockey) for the year and have surrendered 15.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Juuse Saros. The opposition has scored 546 goals against Saros in his professional hockey career and his goals against rate is 2.55. Saros has been in net for 226 matchups during his pro hockey career. His save percentage is .919 during his 12,851 minutes between the pipes. He has amassed a mark of 115-74-21 and he has gotten the start in 210 games. In his professional hockey career, Saros has 129 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .614. Saros has had 6,755 shots against him and has recorded 6,209 saves.

In their last outing, Columbus faced the Canucks in a game where the Blue Jackets got the win by a mark of 4-3. The Blue Jackets earned 4 goals out of the 33 shots on goal they tried. They had 2 power play chances in this matchup but weren't able to notch a goal.

The Blue Jackets have 9 goals at even strength and 0 goals (32nd in hockey) while on the power play. Columbus has attempted 118 shots (13th in hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 7.63%, while allowing their opponents 142 shots. On the campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned a total of 9 goals, 2 points, in addition to a points percentage of .250. They have allowed 17 goals to be scored by way of 15 goals at even strength and 2 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have recorded 10 power play chances and they have earned a power play percentage of 0.00%. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 80.00% on the other teams 10 power play chances, and their save percentage currently comes in at 88.0%.

Across the rink you will find Elvis Merzlikins in net. His opposition is averaging 2.90 goals per game and he has relinquished 326 goals altogether. Merzlikins' quality start rate is 52.7% and he has made 59 quality starts in his pro hockey career. He was named a starter in 112 games and has been on the ice for 6,755 minutes. Merzlikins is the owner of a lifetime mark of 49-45-20 and has participated in 122 contests. He is sitting with 3,398 saves out of the 3,724 shots tried, giving him a save percentage of .912.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Nashville

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