Columbus Blue Jackets vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction NHL Picks 10/12/24

The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Colorado Avalanche meet Saturday night in NHL action from the Ball Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Colorado Avalanche prediction.

Columbus Blue Jackets Recap

The Columbus Blue Jackets come into this one looking to bounce back from a season-opening 3-2 loss at the hands of the Minnesota Wild in their last game. After this matchup, Columbus will head home to start a homestand against the Florida Panthers.

Blue Jackets Looking To Light Spark Offensively

Kent Johnson had a team-high 2 points in the opener with a goal and an assist while Zach Werenski had a goal as well as a team-high 7 shots. Cole Sillinger, Damon Severson, and Yegor Chinakhov each chipped in an assist as well. Elvis Merzlikins has gone 0-1 with a 3.07 GAA and a .885 save percentage so far this season in goal for Columbus.

Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win

• The underdogs have won four of the Avalanche’s last five games.
• The Avalanche have lost each of their last three games as favorites.
• The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six games.
• The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in eight of their last 10 road games against opponents on a losing streak.

Colorado Avalanche Recap

The Colorado Avalanche come into this one looking to bounce back from an 8-4 loss at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in their season opener. After this game, the Avalanche will welcome the New York Islanders to town.

Avalanche Looking To Right The Ship

Mikko Rantanen leads the Avalanche with 3 goals as well as 6 shots, while Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Samuel Girard each have a pair of assists. Casey Mittelstadt has a goal while Josh Manson and Devon Toews each have an assist as well this season. Alexandar Georgiev ended up with the loss in the opener with a 7.50 GAA and a .688 save percentage after allowing 5 goals on 16 shots while Justus Annunen allowed 2 goals on 4 shots in 15 minutes of action.

Why the Colorado Avalanche will win

• The Blue Jackets have lost each of their last 12 road games.
• The home team has won 14 of the Blue Jackets’ last 15 games.
• The Avalanche have covered the puck line in eight of their last nine home openers.
• The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five road games.

Blue Jackets vs. Avalanche Prediction

I’m on the Avs here. I just had my hopes up with the Blue Jackets in the opener and they came close, but I think this is just a bad spot for Columbus. The Avs were humiliated in a marquee spot and now head home for their opener frustrated and looking to take out that frustration on their first opponent. The Blue Jackets just don’t have the horses to go with the Avs at full strength for 60 minutes so as long as Colorado’s goaltending holds up, which I think it will, I’m expecting the Avs to win comfortably here. Give me Colorado.