San Jose Sharks vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 1/16/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: San Jose Sharks vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: NBC4 WCMH-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Sharks (+120) Blue Jackets (-144)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (20-17-6) will try to defeat the San Jose Sharks (13-26-6) at Nationwide Arena on Thursday. The line on this matchup has the Sharks at +120 and the Blue Jackets are priced at -144. The over/under is 6.

The San Jose Sharks will look for better times on the ice after their 3-1 loss to the Wild their last time out. The Sharks had a below average offensive outing in the defeat. In the matchup, they converted 1 of the 37 shots they looked to score on. Additionally, they had 2 chances with extra men on the ice but didn't convert them into a score. San Jose recorded 2 minutes in the box for this matchup.

Get all of our NHL Betting Picks

When at even strength, the Sharks have surrendered 124 goals while having 90 themselves. San Jose Sharks opponents have amassed 138 power play opportunities (5th in professional hockey) and have tallied 30 goals in those chances. Concerning their scoring capabilities, the San Jose Sharks have tallied 114 goals (27th in hockey) on the campaign and have given up 154. San Jose has attempted 1,218 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.4%. For the current season, they have recorded 32 points and their points % is .356. The Sharks have had 1,452 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .894. San Jose steps onto the ice with 134 power play opportunities and they have tallied 24 goals out of those tries, giving them a percentage of 17.91%.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Yaroslav Askarov. Askarov has participated in 3 contests during his NHL career. He has compiled an overall record of 1-1-0 and was named the starter in 2 games. Opponents have notched 6 goals versus Askarov in his career and his goals against average per game is 2.59. Askarov has seen 70 shots against him and he has 64 saves. He has a save percentage of .914 during his 139 mins on the ice. Over the course of his time in hockey, Askarov is sitting with 1 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .500.

Their last time out, Columbus went up against the Blues in a matchup where the Blue Jackets got the victory by a final of 2-1. They had 2 opportunities on the power play in this contest and netted 1 out of those tries. The Blue Jackets scored 2 goals out of the 30 shots on goal they took.

The Blue Jackets are sitting with 119 goals at even strength and 27 goals (12th in professional hockey) while having more men on the ice. Columbus has tried 1,290 shots (8th in the NHL) and has a shooting percentage of 11.32%, while allowing the other team 1,252 shots. On the campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 146 goals, 46 points, and a points percentage of .535. They have allowed 151 goals to be scored by way of 118 goals at even strength and 33 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a total of 112 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 24.11%. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 73.39% on the other teams 124 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage comes in at 87.9%.

For the opposition you are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins in goal. Merzlikins has earned a lifetime mark of 83-89-33 and has participated in 219 games. Merzlikins' quality start rate sits at 47.8% and he has earned 98 quality starting assignments in his hockey career. He has a tally of 5,966 saves out of the 6,612 shots tried, which gives him a save percentage of .902. Opponents are averaging 3.68 goals/game and he has surrendered 646 goals in total. He got the starting nod in 205 contests and has been on the ice for 10,520 minutes.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Columbus (-144)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here