Columbus Blue Jackets vs Florida Panthers Prediction, 3/6/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Florida Panthers

Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL

TV: WSFL-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+110) Panthers (-130)

Amerant Bank Arena is the location where the Florida Panthers (38-21-3) will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets (30-23-8) on Thursday. The odds on this game have the Blue Jackets at +110 and the Panthers are sitting at -130. The total is set at 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the losing side of the ice with a 6-2 defeat against the Lightning in their previous game. The Blue Jackets didn't have a great showing offensively in this defeat. In the game, they tallied a score on 2 out of the 32 shots they put on net. Furthermore, they had 2 chances on the power play but didn't net one. Columbus compiled 18 penalty minutes for this game.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have amassed 165 power play tries (20th in the league) and have come away with 41 goals in those attempts. The Blue Jackets so far have had 1,812 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .889. Columbus has tried 1,756 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 11.6%. When playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets let the opposition score 160 goals while notching 173 when they are on offense. Columbus skates onto the rink with 141 power play chances and they have notched 30 goals during those chances, giving them a percentage of 21.28%. For the current campaign, they have tallied 68 points and their points percentage comes in at .557. In reference to their scoring, the Columbus Blue Jackets have accumulated 203 goals (5th in the NHL) on the season and have surrendered 201.

The man protecting the net in this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Opponents have been able to score 682 goals against Merzlikins in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 3.88. Merzlikins has participated in 232 matchups over the course of his pro hockey career. His save percentage currently sits at .903 for his 10,553 mins in the crease. He has an overall record of 90-94-34 and he started in 218 games. In his professional hockey career, Merzlikins has earned 105 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .482. Merzlikins has had 7,012 shot attempts against him and has recorded 6,330 saves.

In their last contest, Florida faced the Lightning in a game where the Panthers got the victory by a final of 2-1. The Panthers converted 2 goals out of the 29 shots on goal they took. They had 3 power play chances in this outing and tallied 1 out of those chances.

Florida has taken 1,978 shots (1st in hockey) and has earned a shot percentage of 10.21%, while allowing their opponents 1,672 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 80.33% on the other teams 183 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 89.7%. They have a tally of 187 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 22.99%. The Panthers have 159 goals at even strength and 43 goals (6th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have permitted 172 goals to be scored by way of 136 goals at even strength and 36 goals while they had less men on the ice. So far this year, the Florida Panthers have 202 goals, 79 points, as well as a points percentage of .637.

Across the rink you are likely to see Sergei Bobrovsky in net. Bobrovsky has earned a career record of 422-237-57 and has been in goal for 741 contests. Bobrovsky's quality start rate sits at 58.1% and he has qualified for 421 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He is sitting with 19,673 saves out of 21,514 shots attempted, giving him a rate of .914. The opposition is averaging 2.73 goals per game and he has relinquished 1,841 goals overall. He has been a starter 725 games and has been on the ice for 40,426 minutes.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Florida (-130)

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