Minnesota Wild vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 1/6/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Minnesota Wild vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Saturday, January 6, 2024

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Wild (-132) Blue Jackets (+110)

Nationwide Arena is the site where the Columbus Blue Jackets (13-19-8) will take on the Minnesota Wild (16-17-4) on Saturday. The moneyline on this game has the Wild at -132 and the Blue Jackets are at +110. The over/under comes in at 7.

The Minnesota Wild will look for better times on the ice after their 4-1 defeat against the Lightning in their last outing. Minnesota recorded 11 penalty minutes for this matchup. The Wild had an offensive game that was below their expectations in the defeat. In addition, they had 1 power play chance but weren't able to make the most of that try. In the game, they scored on 1 of the 23 shots they looked to score on.

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Minnesota Wild opponents have amassed 128 power play opportunities (8th in professional hockey) and have a total of 35 goals in those chances. The Wild thus far have had 1,123 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .895. Minnesota has attempted 1,112 shots and has a shot percentage of 9.8%. While at even strength, the Wild have conceded 83 goals while having 87 of their own. Minnesota has 122 power play opportunities and they have added 22 goals during those advantages, garnering them a rate of 18.03%. For the current campaign, they have recorded 36 points and their points percentage comes in at .486. When discussing their goal scoring prowess, the Minnesota Wild have earned 109 goals (25th in the league) for the year and have surrendered 118.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has been involved in 1,002 games over the course of his pro hockey career. He has accumulated a mark of 550-323-93 and he has started in 843 games. The opposition has notched 2,504 goals versus Fleury in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 2.59. Fleury has had 28,576 shot attempts against him and has accrued 26,072 total saves. His save percentage is at .912 in his 58,015 minutes in the crease. In his career, Fleury has accumulated 464 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .550.

Their last time out, Columbus opposed the Flyers in a game where the Blue Jackets got the tie by a final of 2-2. They had 5 power play opportunities in this outing but didn't score a goal. The Blue Jackets recorded 2 goals of the 28 shots on goal they were seeking.

On the year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned a total of 122 goals, 34 points, and a points percentage of .425. They have granted a total of 145 goals to be scored by way of 124 goals at even strength and 21 goals while they were shorthanded. The Blue Jackets have accumulated 106 goals at even strength and 16 goals (27th in the NHL) while on the power play. They have a total of 110 power play chances and they have a power play percentage of 14.55%. Columbus has taken 1,168 shots (14th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 10.45%, while allowing their opponents 1,374 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 81.25% on their oppositions 112 power play opportunities, and their save percentage sits at 89.4%.

Across the rink you are expected to see Elvis Merzlikins in goal. Merzlikins has a career mark of 62-70-28 and has participated in 173 games. Merzlikins' percentage of quality starts sits at 48.1% and he has qualified for 77 quality starts in his pro career. He has recorded 4,794 saves out of the 5,291 shots taken against him, which gives him a save percentage of .906. The opposition is averaging 3.15 goals/game and he has relinquished 497 goals in total. He got the starting nod in 160 games and has racked up 9,468 mins.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota (-132)

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