NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Blue Jackets vs Panthers (Thursday, April 11)
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images. Pictured: Jet Greaves (Blue Jackets)
Blue Jackets vs. Panthers Odds
| Blue Jackets Odds | +280 |
| Panthers Odds | -350 |
| Over / Under | 6 -130/ +100 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Florida Panthers on Thursday, April 11 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Blue Jackets vs. Panthers odds have Florida as a -350 favorite on the moneyline, while the over/under is set at six goals. There have been six or fewer total goals scored in each of the Panthers' past three games.
Will that trend continue? Here's a Blue Jackets vs. Panthers prediction for Thursday.
Goaltender Jet Greaves is slated to guard the cage for Columbus, and he should be a good candidate to back. Greaves is putting together a tremendous start to his career, boasting a .921 SV% through his first seven appearances in an NHL crease.
However, he only possesses two wins over that stretch, which is an indictment of his lack of goal support. This season, the Jackets rank in the bottom seven of the league in goals scored per game, power play percentage and shooting percentage.
Based on their underlying metrics, positive regression is unlikely, as they rank 25th in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60).
Making matters worse, there are a litany of forwards slated to miss this contest for the Blue Jackets, including Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Yegor Chinakhov, Patrik Laine, Alex Nylander and Boone Jenner.
That lack of offensive success is likely to continue against goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who's put together a Vezina-worthy campaign. Through 56 starts, Bobrovsky is 34-17-4 with a .913 SV% and 2.43 GAA.
This success is likely to continue against Columbus, as he's dominated his former team since arriving in Florida. Through 13 career starts against the Jackets, Bobrovsky is 10-2-1 with a .913 SV% and 2.61 GAA.
Now, it certainly helps his cause that he plays behind one of the best defensive teams in hockey. This season, the Panthers rank fourth in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
With this combination of stellar goaltender and defensive play, it's not shocking that they rank first in the league in goals allowed per game.
Blue Jackets vs. Panthers
Betting Pick & Prediction
Florida's offense has gone cold, scoring just two goals in each of its past two games.
It's not a good time for the slow down, given that the playoffs are right around the corner and Greaves is a tough guy to beat.
With that said, the Panthers will likely be okay since the Jackets are struggling to field an NHL roster right now amidst all the injuries (not that they were a scoring powerhouse to begin with).
Finally, the total is jumping between six and 6.5, but I think there's more value in taking under 6 at +100 than under 6.5 at -118.
Pick: Under 6 (+100 at BetMGM | Play to -105)
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