Columbus Blue Jackets vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction, 12/1/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Chicago Blackhawks

Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024

Location: United Center in Chicago, IL

TV: Chicago Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (-144) Blackhawks (+120)

United Center is the location where the Chicago Blackhawks (8-12-2) will play the Columbus Blue Jackets (9-9-3) on Sunday. The moneyline on this contest has Columbus at -144 while Chicago opens at +120. The total is 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will look to clean up some issues after taking a 4-3 loss against the Canadiens their last time on the ice. Columbus recorded 11 penalty minutes in this contest. The Blue Jackets offense showed they have some room for improvement in this loss. In addition, they had 3 power play tries but didn't get a goal. For the matchup, they earned a goal on 3 of the 24 shots they put on goal.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have totaled 65 power play tries (19th in the NHL) and have racked up 15 goals in those attempts. The Blue Jackets thus far have had 605 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .874. Columbus has taken 666 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.8%. When playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets have surrendered 61 goals while getting 62 when they are on offense. Columbus comes into tonight with 58 power play chances and they have scored 10 goals out of those attempts, giving them a percentage of 17.24%. For the season, they sit with 21 points and their points percentage is sitting at .500. When talking about their goal scoring prowess, the Columbus Blue Jackets have accumulated 72 goals (9th in pro hockey) over the course of the season and have given up 76.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Elvis Merzlikins. For his career, Merzlikins has recorded 90 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .474. His save percentage currently is at .903 for his 10,482 minutes between the pipes. Merzlikins has had 6,191 shot attempts taken against him and he has 5,592 total saves. The opposition has racked up 599 goals versus Merzlikins in his professional career and his goals against rate is 3.43. He has earned an overall mark of 74-84-32 and he has started in 190 games. Merzlikins has participated in 204 games over the course of his pro hockey career.

In their last game, Chicago squared up with the Stars in a game where the Blackhawks got the victory by a mark of 6-2. The Blackhawks tallied 6 goals out of the 26 shots on goal they pursued. They had 2 power play opportunities in this one and tallied 1 out of those chances.

On the campaign, the Chicago Blackhawks have tallied 55 goals, 18 points, and a points percentage of .409. They have permitted 65 goals to be scored by of a combination of 51 goals at even strength and 14 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Blackhawks have tallied 43 goals at even strength and 12 goals (20th in hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have a total of 55 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 21.82%. Chicago has taken 572 shots (29th in professional hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 9.62%, while allowing the other team 678 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 78.46% on the other teams 65 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 90.4%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Petr Mrazek defending the goal. Mrazek is the owner of a career record of 175-163-39 and has played in 406 games. Mrazek's quality start rate is 52.0% and he has 195 quality starts in his pro hockey career. He has accounted for 10,391 saves out of the 11,451 shots taken, which gives him a rate of .907. His opponents are averaging 2.91 goals per game and he has surrendered 1,060 goals altogether. He got the starting nod in 375 games and has accumulated 21,846 minutes.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (-144)

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