Columbus Blue Jackets vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction, 3/22/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Colorado Avalanche

Date: Friday, March 22, 2024

Location: Ball Arena in Denver, CO

TV: Altitude Sports

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+280) Avalanche (-350)

The Colorado Avalanche (44-20-5) will go up against the Columbus Blue Jackets (23-34-12) at Ball Arena on Friday. The line on this matchup has Columbus at +280 and Colorado is sitting at -350. The over/under is set at 7.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 4-3 defeat against the Red Wings their last time on the ice. The Blue Jackets were neither impressive or disappointing offensively in the defeat. For the game, they finished 3 of the 35 shots they launched. Additionally, they had 2 power play tries and netted 1 goal. Columbus recorded 16 penalty minutes in this game.

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In relation to their goal scoring prowess, the Columbus Blue Jackets have racked up 200 goals (24th in hockey) so far this year and have given up 248. For the season, they have tallied 58 points and their points % is .420. Columbus comes into tonight with 188 power play opportunities and they have scored 27 goals out of those attempts, earning them a rate of 14.36%. At even strength, the Blue Jackets have allowed the opponent to score 203 goals while notching 173 when they are on offense. Columbus has tried 2,102 shots and has a shooting percentage of 9.5%. The Blue Jackets so far have had 2,303 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .892. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have totaled 197 power play opportunities (23rd in professional hockey) and have racked up 45 goals in those attempts.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Daniil Tarasov. Tarasov has taken the ice for 41 contests throughout his hockey career. He has earned a mark of 11-22-4 and he has started in 38 games. Opponents have been able to score 127 goals against Tarasov in his pro career and his goals against average per game is 3.42. Tarasov has seen 1,291 shot attempts against him and has amassed 1,164 saves. He has a save percentage of .902 in his 2,230 minutes between the pipes. In his career, Tarasov has 19 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .500.

Their last time out, Colorado went up against the Blues in a game where the Avalanche earned a victory by a mark of 4-3. The Avalanche earned 4 goals out of the 35 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 3 power play attempts in this contest and earned 1 out of those chances.

Colorado has attempted 2,258 shots (6th in professional hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 11.34%, while allowing their opponents 2,040 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 81.70% on the other teams 224 power play opportunities, and their save percentage sits at 89.9%. They have a tally of 241 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play rate of 24.90%. The Avalanche have tallied 196 goals at even strength and 60 goals (2nd in the league) while having a power play advantage. They have granted a total of 206 goals to be scored by way of 165 goals at even strength and 41 goals while they were shorthanded. This season, the Colorado Avalanche have notched a total of 256 goals, 93 points, and a points percentage of .674.

Across the ice you are going to see Alexandar Georgiev protecting the goal. Georgiev has amassed a career record of 133-79-20 and has been in goal for 245 contests. Georgiev's percentage of quality starts is 53.4% and he has made 124 quality starting assignments in his career. He has a tally of 6,527 stops out of 7,176 shots tried, giving him a save percentage of .910. His opponents are averaging 2.81 goals per contest and he has surrendered 649 goals overall. He has started in 232 games and has played 13,879 mins.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+280)

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