Columbus Blue Jackets (5-5-3) vs Carolina Hurricanes (7-2)
Game Info: Monday, February 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm (Nationwide Arena)
Betting Odds: Columbus Blue Jackets +115 / Carolina Hurricanes -135 --- Over/Under: 5.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Carolina Hurricanes and the Columbus Blue Jackets meet in NHL action from the Nationwide Arena on Monday night.
The Carolina Hurricanes will look to take the back-to-back in a sweep after a 6-5 win over Columbus on Sunday. Andrei Svechnikov leads the ‘Canes with 10 points including 6 goals and 4 assists while Vincent Trocheck, Jordan Staal and Sebastian Aho each have 9 points with Trocheck putting up 6 goals and 3 assists while Aho and Staal each have 7 assists on the year. Dougie Hamilton also has 8 points with 8 assists while Nino Niederreiter, Brett Pesce and Martin Necas each have 5 points. James Reimer continues to thrive in the starting role, going 5-1 with a 3.13 GAA this season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will look to bounce back and salvage a split with the Hurricanes after Sunday’s loss. Oliver Bjorkstrand leads the Jackets in scoring with 11 points including 4 goals and 7 assists while Nick Foligno and Alex Texier each have 7 points coming on 4 goals and 3 assists. Jack Roslovic, Patrik Laine, Boone Jenner and Eric Robinson all have 6 points with Laine logging 5 goals while Jenner has 3 goals and 3 assists, Robinson has 4 assists and Roslovic has 5 assists on the year. Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins continue to split goaltending duties, with Korpisalo sitting with 3 wins and a 3.29 GAA while Merzlikins has 2 wins and a 2.76 GAA.
Carolina is 20-6 in their last 26 games playing on no rest and 6-1 in their last 7 games overall while the over is 4-0 in their last 4 games as a favorite. Columbus is 5-11 in their last 16 games overall and 3-7 in their last 10 home games while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games as an underdog. Carolina is 1-4 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams in Columbus.
I get Carolina being favored on the road after their hot start, but Columbus is starting to pick up their play and the Blue Jackets’ style is the perfect counter to the Hurricanes’. Columbus plays a tougher, grittier and more physical style that should cancel out Carolina’s speed and finesse in this one so I’ll take a shot with Columbus and the plus money at home here.
Chris’s Pick Columbus +115
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
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