Minnesota Wild vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 2/23/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Minnesota Wild vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Wild (-188) Blue Jackets (+155)

The Minnesota Wild (31-21-5) are traveling to Nationwide Arena on Thursday where they will attempt to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets (18-34-5). The moneyline on this matchup has the Wild at -188 and the Blue Jackets are priced at +155. The betting total comes in at 7.

The Minnesota Wild were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 2-1 win over the Kings in their last outing. Minnesota had 2 mins in the box for this matchup. The Wild could have played much better offensively in the win. Moreover, they had 3 power play opportunities but didn't get a goal. For the game, they converted 2 out of the 20 shots they put on goal.

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In reference to their scoring, the Minnesota Wild have earned 163 goals (25th in the NHL) on the year and have surrendered 159. For the season, they have 67 points and their points percentage is .588. Minnesota has compiled 182 power play opportunities and they have scored 43 goals during those advantages, earning them a rate of 23.63%. While playing at even strength, the Wild let the opposition score 125 goals while having 120 of their own. Minnesota has taken 1,781 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 9.2%. The Wild have had 1,719 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .908. Minnesota Wild opponents have tallied 187 power play opportunities (11th in hockey) and have tallied 34 goals in those attempts.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has been involved in 973 contests throughout his NHL career. He has earned a record of 536-312-90 and he has gotten the start in 816 games. Opponents have been able to score 2,424 goals versus Fleury in his career and his goals against rate is 2.58. Fleury has had 27,699 shots against him and has recorded 25,275 total saves. His save percentage currently sits at .912 for his 56,320 minutes played. In his professional hockey career, Fleury has 449 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .550.

When they took the ice last, Columbus played the Coyotes in a game where the Blue Jackets were on the wrong end of the score by a final of 3-2. The Blue Jackets scored 2 goals out of the 36 shots on goal they took. They had 3 power play opportunities in this contest and scored 1 out of those chances.

During this campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 145 goals, 41 points, in addition to a points percentage of .360. They have permitted 211 goals to be scored by way of 171 goals at even strength and 40 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Blue Jackets have accumulated 120 goals at even strength and 25 goals (32nd in the league) while on the power play. They have earned 153 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 16.34%. Columbus has put up 1,669 shots (27th in the league) and has a shooting percentage of 8.69%, while allowing the opposition 1,981 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 77.27% on the other teams 176 power play tries, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.3%.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Joonas Korpisalo patrolling the crease. Teams are averaging 3.05 goals/game and he has yielded 582 goals overall. Korpisalo's percentage of quality starts sits at 47.9% and he has 90 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He got the starting nod in 188 games and has played 11,439 mins. Korpisalo has accumulated a career mark of 86-77-24 and has been in goal for 208 games. He has a tally of 5,425 stops out of 6,007 shots attempted, which gives him a save % of .903.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota (-188)

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