Ottawa Senators vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 4/2/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Ottawa Senators vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Sunday, April 2, 2023

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Nationwide Arena is the location where the Columbus Blue Jackets (23-43-8) will go up against the Ottawa Senators (37-33-5) on Sunday.

The Ottawa Senators were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 5-4 victory against the Flyers in their previous outing. Ottawa accounted for 41 penalty minutes for this game. They also had 3 power play chances and notched 1 goal. The Senators had a impressive offensive outing in this win. For the outing, they finished 5 of the 46 shots they put on goal.

In terms of scoring goals, the Ottawa Senators have notched 239 goals (18th in pro hockey) this year and have conceded 243. For the season, the have a total of 79 points and their points percentage is .527. Ottawa skates onto the rink with 279 power play opportunities and they have added 69 goals out of those advantages, giving them a percentage of 24.73%. While playing at even strength, the Senators have conceded 194 goals while having 170 themselves. Ottawa has attempted 2,497 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.6%. The Senators so far have had 2,374 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .898. Ottawa Senators opponents have totaled 268 power play opportunities (3rd in the league) and have a total of 49 goals in those attempts.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Mads Sogaard. Opponents have been able to score 51 goals versus Sogaard in his professional career and his goals against rate is 3.17. Sogaard has taken the ice for 17 contests over the course of his professional hockey career. He has a save percentage of .894 in his 965 minutes on the ice. He has an overall mark of 8-6-2 and he started in 16 games. Over the course of his time in hockey, Sogaard has tallied 8 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .500. Sogaard has had 479 shots taken against him and has amassed 428 total saves.

In their last contest, Columbus squared up with the Bruins in a matchup where the Blue Jackets took a loss by a final score of 2-1. They had 5 power play opportunities in this game but weren't able to notch a goal. The Blue Jackets tallied 1 goal out of the 26 shots on goal they tried.

Columbus has put up 2,197 shots (25th in the league) and has earned a shot percentage of 9.01%, while allowing the other team 2,604 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 75.69% on their oppositions 218 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage is currently 88.8%. They have recorded 201 power play chances and they have earned a power play percentage of 18.91%. The Blue Jackets have earned 160 goals at even strength and 38 goals (27th in the league) while having more men on the ice. They have allowed 292 goals to be scored by of a combination of 239 goals at even strength and 53 goals while they were shorthanded. For the year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have accounted for 198 goals, 54 points, and a points percentage of .365.

Across the ice you are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins defending the goal. His opponents are averaging 3.13 goals per game and he has given up 428 goals altogether. Merzlikins' quality start rate is 48.9% and he has 67 quality starts in his NHL career. He got the starting nod in 137 contests and his ice time sits at 8,192 minutes. Merzlikins holds a lifetime record of 55-62-22 and has been in goal for 150 games. He has accounted for 4,125 saves out of the 4,553 shots taken against him, giving him a save % of .906.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus

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