Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Islanders Prediction, 1/20/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Islanders

Date: Monday, January 20, 2025

Location: UBS Arena in Elmont, NY

TV: MSG

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (-160) Islanders (+132)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (22-17-6) are en route to UBS Arena on Monday where they will try to defeat the New York Islanders (17-20-7). The line on this matchup has Columbus at -160 and New York is coming in at +132. The over/under is 6.5.

The Columbus Blue Jackets went home feeling good about their game by earning a 4-1 win over the Sharks in their previous outing. Columbus had 6 penalty minutes in this matchup. In addition, they had 2 chances on the power play but didn't convert them into a score. The Blue Jackets had a good offensive outing in the victory. For the game, they converted 4 of the 34 shots they put on goal.

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When discussing their scoring capabilities, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned 152 goals (5th in the National Hockey League) over the course of the season and have conceded 154. For the current campaign, they sit with 50 points and their points % is .556. Columbus has accumulated 115 power play opportunities and they have added 27 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a percentage of 23.48%. At even strength, the Blue Jackets have conceded 121 goals while earning 125 themselves. Columbus has taken 1,352 shots and holds a shot percentage of 11.2%. The Blue Jackets have seen 1,296 shots tried against them and hold a save percentage of .881. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have tallied 129 power play opportunities (15th in pro hockey) and have a total of 33 goals in those attempts.

The man protecting the net in this game is Elvis Merzlikins. For his career, Merzlikins has 99 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .481. His save percentage currently sits at .902 during his 10,523 minutes between the pipes. Merzlikins has seen 6,631 shots taken against him and has recorded 5,984 total saves. Opponents have racked up 647 goals versus Merzlikins in his professional career and his goals against average per game is 3.69. He has amassed an overall record of 84-89-33 and he has gotten the start in 206 games. Merzlikins has taken the ice for 220 contests during his pro hockey career.

In their last outing, New York played the Flyers in an outing where the Islanders ended up losing by a final of 5-3. They had 4 opportunities on the power play in this matchup and earned 2 out of those chances. The Islanders scored 3 goals out of the 29 shots on goal they attempted.

The Islanders have racked up 102 goals at even strength and 13 goals (32nd in hockey) while having a power play advantage. New York has tried 1,265 shots (18th in professional hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 9.09%, while allowing their opponents 1,252 shots. So far this year, the New York Islanders have earned a total of 115 goals, 41 points, in addition to a points percentage of .466. They have permitted 135 goals to be scored by of a combination of 104 goals at even strength and 31 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a total of 109 power play chances and they have earned a power play rate of 11.93%. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 67.02% on their oppositions 94 power play chances, and their save percentage is currently 89.2%.

Across the ice you are likely to see Ilya Sorokin in net. He has accounted for 6,173 saves out of the 6,736 shots taken against him, which gives him a rate of .916. Sorokin holds a career record of 108-79-34 and has been in goal for 223 games. He has started in 219 games and has played for a total of 11,333 minutes. Sorokin's quality start rate sits at 66.7% and he has 146 quality starting assignments in his hockey career. The opposition is averaging 2.98 goals/game and he has surrendered 563 goals overall.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (-160)

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