Carolina Hurricanes vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 12/31/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Carolina Hurricanes vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: NBC4 WCMH-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Hurricanes (-210) Blue Jackets (+172)

The Carolina Hurricanes (22-13-1) are en route to Nationwide Arena on Tuesday where they will meet the Columbus Blue Jackets (15-16-6). The odds on this game have the Hurricanes at -210 while the Blue Jackets are coming in at +172. The total is set at 6.

The Carolina Hurricanes will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 5-2 victory against the Devils their last time out. Carolina earned 8 penalty mins in this contest. Moreover, they had 4 power play opportunities and were able to net 1 goal. The Hurricanes had a solid offensive output and it showed in this win. For the outing, they were able to notch a goal on 5 of the 41 shots they tried.

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Carolina Hurricanes opponents have totaled 112 power play opportunities (9th in the league) and have scored 16 goals in those chances. The Hurricanes thus far have had 902 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .888. Carolina has taken 1,149 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.9%. At even strength, the Hurricanes have given up 85 goals while notching 96 when they are on offense. Carolina skates onto the rink with 113 power play opportunities and they have scored 29 goals out of those tries, giving them a percentage of 25.66%. For the year, they have earned 45 points and their points % is .625. When discussing their scoring capabilities, the Carolina Hurricanes have notched 125 goals (6th in the NHL) this season and have conceded 101.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Pyotr Kochetkov. Opponents have notched 209 goals against Kochetkov in his pro career and his average for goals against per game is 3.15. Kochetkov has played in 91 games over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage is at .907 in his 3,978 mins guarding the cage. He has accumulated a win-loss record of 52-27-9 and was named the starter in 87 games. During his career on the ice, Kochetkov is sitting with 49 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .563. Kochetkov has seen 2,257 shot attempts against him and has accrued 2,048 total saves.

When they were on the ice last, Columbus played the Bruins in a game where the Blue Jackets took a loss by a final of 4-0. The Blue Jackets netted 0 goals out of the 18 shots on goal they pursued. They had 3 chances on the power play in this game but weren't able to put one in the back of the net.

The Blue Jackets have tallied 101 goals at even strength and 21 goals (19th in hockey) while on the power play. Columbus has tried 1,115 shots (5th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 10.94%, while allowing the other team 1,072 shots. During this campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned 122 goals, 36 points, in addition to a points percentage of .486. They have permitted 133 goals to be scored by way of 106 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have earned 100 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 21.00%. They have a penalty kill percentage of 75.00% on the other teams 108 power play tries, and their save percentage is 87.6%.

Across the ice you are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins in the crease. Merzlikins has earned a career mark of 79-88-33 and has been in net for 214 games. Merzlikins' percentage of quality starts is 48.0% and he has earned 96 quality starting assignments in his hockey career. He has recorded 5,835 saves out of 6,464 shots taken against him, giving him a save % of .903. Opponents are averaging 3.59 goals/game and he has yielded 629 goals altogether. He has been a starter 200 contests and has been on the ice for 10,508 mins.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+172)

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