NHL Preview: Look for Fireworks as Blue Jackets Take on Kraken
We’ve got a late Saturday night game featuring plenty of action. We’re talking about hockey of course – the Blue Jackets and Kraken. Columbus (13-11-1) head to Seattle (9-15-2) as underdogs on the NHL betting lines. They’ve had a hard time winning anything but so has Seattle.
Whatever the case may be, this is a showcase game between two of the NHL’s worst teams. But who knows, maybe they can combine for some fun albeit embarrassing entertainment.
NHL Odds Preview
Columbus Blue Jackets at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET, ROOT)
- Puckline: Columbus +1½ (-180), Seattle -1½ (+160)
- Moneyline: Columbus +140, Seattle -160
- Total: Over 6 (+105), Under 6 (-145)
Team Previews
Blue Jackets Are Struggling
After being annoyingly decent through the season (you’d still be up six units betting online on them at this point), Columbus has started looking more like the lottery team it was expected to be.
It has dropped six of its last seven games. Though Columbus can make favorites sweat enough times to convince you to pick them, like we did against Washington, this team does not have the defense or the discipline to hold off the upper echelon of the league.
Columbus has, surprisingly, great offense. The Blue Jackets are 12th in goals scored and have an above average power play. But unless their goaltenders stand on their head, they will be giving up two goals to score one. This usually haunts them on the road where they are 4-8 and ripe for fading.
Kraken Enduring Growing Pains
The Kraken may be a top-tier team when it comes to coolness but its actual hockey abilities leave much to be desired. Seattle was built to be like its namesake, but the only thing terrifying about it is its online gambling record. You’d be down 9 1/2 units backing this team on the moneyline.
The root of the problem is Seattle’s goaltending. Seattle is decent at making it hard for their opponents to gain scoring chances, but all three of their netminders are playing like they’ve had one too many shots of Kraken.
With a -20.5 goals saved above expectations, Seattle has issues in net to say the least. If either Philip Grubauer or Joey Daccord can pull off a semi-decent game, this team may have a shot. Hold your wallet, not your breath.
Betting Pick
We’d be damned to pick between these teams though we lean on the Kraken as they generally play better on 5v5. We just can’t place our money on those shaky netminders. Instead, bank on this game being a high-scoring one – maybe the highest for Saturday.
The last time these teams met, only three goals were scored. That was an aberration as Seattle allows almost 3.5 goals at home while Columbus gives up over four on the road. They’re two of the best bets when it comes to high-scoring games: 65.3% of their combined games go over.
Pick: Over 6 (+105)
Bonus Pick
With shoddy goaltending on one end and heart attack-inducing defense on the other, no lead is safe. Teams that score first usually win hence the juiced up line. But this could be an exception. Seattle 3-7 when allowing the first goal at home and Columbus is 4-6 when falling behind on the road.
Pick: Team Scoring 1st Wins Game – No (+180)
