Columbus Blue Jackets vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 4/6/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023

Location: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

TV: MSG+

The Columbus Blue Jackets (24-45-8) are traveling to Prudential Center on Thursday where they will try to defeat the New Jersey Devils (49-21-8).

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 4-2 defeat to the Maple Leafs in their previous game. The Blue Jackets had a below average offensive performance in this loss. In the outing, they scored on 2 out of the 26 shots they looked to score on. They also had 2 chances with the advantage but weren't able to make the most of them. Columbus earned 6 mins in the box in this game.

Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have earned 226 power play opportunities (21st in the NHL) and have scored 54 goals in those attempts. The Blue Jackets have seen 2,730 shots taken against them and have earned a save percentage of .888. Columbus has tried 2,266 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 9.0%. At even strength, the Blue Jackets have allowed the opponent to score 252 goals while earning 165 of their own. Columbus has 209 power play opportunities and they have tallied 39 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a percentage of 18.66%. For the current campaign, they have scored 56 points and their points percentage comes in at .364. In the matter of their goal scoring prowess, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 204 goals (30th in the National Hockey League) on the season and have surrendered 306.

The man in goal for this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has participated in 150 contests over the course of his hockey career. He has earned an overall record of 55-62-22 and got the start in 137 games. Opponents have tallied 428 goals against Merzlikins in his pro hockey career and his goals against average per contest is 3.13. Merzlikins has had 4,553 shot attempts taken against him and he has 4,125 total saves. He has a save percentage of .906 in his 8,192 minutes between the pipes. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Merzlikins has compiled 67 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .489.

The last time they were on the ice, New Jersey played the Penguins in a matchup where the Devils got the win by a tally of 5-1. The Devils netted 5 goals of the 37 shots on goal they took. They had 4 opportunities on the power play in this matchup and scored 1 out of those attempts.

The Devils are sitting with 223 goals at even strength and 46 goals (20th in pro hockey) while having more men on the ice. New Jersey has tried 2,691 shots (4th in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.00%, while allowing the opposition 2,189 shots. On the campaign, the New Jersey Devils have 269 goals, 106 points, and a points percentage of .679. They have granted a total of 213 goals to be scored by of a combination of 174 goals at even strength and 39 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have earned 214 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play rate of 21.50%. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 82.35% on their opponents 221 tries on the power play, and their save percentage is currently 90.3%.

For the opposition you are expected to see Vitek Vanecek in net. He has recorded 3,112 saves out of the 3,426 shots taken, giving him a save percentage of .908. Vanecek has accumulated a career mark of 72-33-14 and has played in 129 games. He has started in 121 games and his ice time sits at 7,228 minutes. Vanecek's percentage of quality starts comes out to 54.5% and he has made 66 quality starting assignments in his professional career. His opponents are averaging 2.61 goals/game and he has relinquished 314 goals altogether.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus

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