Blue Jackets vs. Blues Odds
| Blue Jackets Odds | +134 |
| Blues Odds | -162 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -122o / +100u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, Jan. 30 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
These two teams squared off in December and Columbus claimed a 5-2 victory as an underdog. Will history repeat itself on Tuesday evening?
Let's dig into the NHL odds and make a Blue Jackets vs. Blues prediction and pick.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Don't get me wrong, Columbus isn't a good team. However, the Blue Jackets are slightly better than their 15-24-10 record suggests, and are definitely better than the +158 odds that we are receiving against St. Louis.
This season, the Blue Jackets rank higher than the Blues in goals scored per game, shots on goal per game and shooting percentage. Columbus is also the stronger team analytically.
At 5-on-5, it ranks higher than St. Louis in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60), expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) and expected goal differential per 60 minutes. The main reason we are catching plus-money on Columbus in this spot is because of goaltender Daniil Tarasov, who is slated to guard the cage Tuesday night.
It has been a tough season for the Russian netminder, but he's started to play better recently with a .909 SV% over his past two starts.
St. Louis Blues
Goaltender Jordan Binnington is projected to start across the ice, and is the other reason why the Blues are such heavy favorites. Yes, he is clearly better than Tarasov, but there are a few things working against Binnington in this matchup.
First, goal support could be very difficult to come by. This season, St. Louis ranks 23rd or lower in goals scored per game, shots on goal per game and power play percentage.
The Blues are even worse analytically, ranking 27th in xGF/60 at 5-on-5. Things don't get any better in the defensive zone as St. Louis ranks 20th or lower in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game and penalty kill percentage.
The Blues also rank 30th in xGA/60 at 5-on-5.
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Blue Jackets vs. Blues
Betting Pick & Prediction
Columbus is the stronger team in this matchup, whether you are looking at surface-level stats on the offensive end, or the underlying metrics in all three zones. The only reason it is such a big underdog on the road is because of the projected Tarasov vs. Binnington matchup.
However, Tarasov has started to see the puck better over his past two starts and I believe that, coupled with the other advantages, is enough to cover that goaltending gap.
We are catching a particularly good price on the underdogs and I'd play this line up to +150.
Pick: Blue Jackets Moneyline (+158 at Caesars | Play to +150)
