New Jersey Devils vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 12/19/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New Jersey Devils vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: NBC4 WCMH-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Devils (-196) Blue Jackets (+162)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (12-15-5) host the New Jersey Devils (21-10-3) at Nationwide Arena on Thursday. The line on this matchup has the Devils at -196 while the Blue Jackets are coming in at +162. The total comes in at 6.

The New Jersey Devils were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 4-1 victory over the Blues in their previous contest . The Devils had a impressive offensive output in this victory. In the matchup, they tallied a score on 4 of the 28 shots they tried. Moreover, they had 3 power play opportunities and were able to notch 1 goal. New Jersey compiled 10 penalty minutes in this game.

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With respect to scoring goals, the New Jersey Devils have accumulated 114 goals (4th in hockey) on the campaign and have allowed 87. For the year, the have a total of 45 points and their points percentage is .662. New Jersey is sitting with 103 power play chances and they have added 31 goals out of those chances, earning them a rate of 30.10%. While playing at even strength, the Devils have allowed the opponent to score 70 goals while having 83 as an offensive unit. New Jersey has attempted 1,025 shots and has a shooting percentage of 11.1%. The Devils thus far have had 878 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .901. New Jersey Devils opponents have recorded 95 power play opportunities (14th in the league) and have scored 17 goals in those chances.

The man protecting the net in this game is Jacob Markstrom. During his career on the ice, Markstrom has earned 261 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .530. His save percentage is .909 in his 27,914 mins on the ice. Markstrom has had 14,496 shot attempts taken against him and he has 13,176 total saves. The opposition has notched 1,320 goals against Markstrom in his NHL career and his goals against average per game is 2.84. He has a win-loss mark of 231-202-59 and was named the starter in 492 games. Markstrom has been involved in 509 contests during his hockey career.

In their last game, Columbus faced the Lightning in a game where the Blue Jackets ended up taking the loss by a tally of 5-3. They had 5 power play chances in this contest and netted 1 out of those tries. The Blue Jackets converted 3 goals out of the 31 shots on goal they were seeking.

Columbus has taken 986 shots (4th in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.45%, while allowing the opposition 914 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 72.45% on their opponents 98 power play tries, and their save percentage currently sits at 87.3%. They have recorded 88 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 18.18%. The Blue Jackets have scored 87 goals at even strength and 16 goals (23rd in the league) while having more men on the ice. They have allowed 116 goals to be scored by way of 89 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they were shorthanded. During this campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets have 103 goals, 29 points, as well as a points percentage of .453.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Elvis Merzlikins between the pipes. His opponents are averaging 3.54 goals/game and he has surrendered 620 goals in total. Merzlikins' quality start rate comes in at 47.7% and he has accumulated 94 quality starts in his pro career. He got the starting nod in 197 contests and has been on the ice for 10,500 minutes. Merzlikins is the owner of a career record of 77-88-32 and has been in goal for 211 games. He has recorded 5,746 stops out of 6,366 shots taken against him, which gives him a rate of .903.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New Jersey (-196)

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