Nashville Predators (8-11) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (8-8-5)
Game Info: Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 3:00 pm (Bridgestone Arena)
Betting Odds: Nashville Predators -125 / Columbus Blue Jackets +105 --- Over/Under: 5.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators meet Saturday in NHL action at the Bridgestone Arena.
The Columbus Blue Jackets need a win after losing five of their last six games. The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging three goals per game and are scoring on 20 percent of their power play opportunities. Cam Atkinson leads Columbus with eight goals, Oliver Bjorkstrand has 10 assists and Seth Jones has 42 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.4 goals per game and are killing 71.7 percent of their opponents power plays. Joonas Korpisalo has given up 45 goals on 394 shots faced and Elvis Merzlikins has allowed 12 goals on 127 shots.
The Nashville Predators look for a win after splitting their last six games. The Nashville Predators are averaging 2.3 goals per game and are scoring on 17.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Filip Forsberg leads Nashville with nine goals, Roman Josi has eight assists and Viktor Arvidsson has 61 shots on goal. Defensively, the Nashville Predators are allowing 3.2 goals per game and are killing 68.9 percent of their opponents power plays. Juuse Saros has allowed 30 goals on 254 shots faced and Pekka Rinne has allowed 22 goals on 262 shots.
The Blue Jackets are 3-7 in their last 10 road games and 1-5 in their last 6 overall. The Predators are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a home favorite. The under is 13-4-1 in Blue Jackets last 18 road games. The over is 4-0 in Predators last 4 Saturday games. The Blue Jackets are 5-27 in the last 32 meetings in Nashville and 17-45 in the last 62 meetings.
The Columbus Blue Jackets aren't playing good hockey right now, have played some of their worst hockey on the road and haven't had much success over the years against the Predators. The Nashville Predators have had issues of their own and aren't good offensively, but they have the edge defensively here and should have the edge at home. I can't back the Blue Jackets in their current form. I'll take the Preds and the reasonable price.
Randy’s Pick Nashville Predators -125
AUTHOR: Randy Chambers
Follow Randy Chambers on Twitter @WizardOf0dds