Columbus Blue Jackets at St. Louis Blues odds, picks and predictions

The Columbus Blue Jackets (14-24-10) take on the St. Louis Blues (26-20-2)  Tuesday at Enterprise Center. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jacketsvs. Blues odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Blue Jackets are 3-5-2 in the last 10 games and have dropped 2 straight. This will be their 5th straight road game, and Seattle took them down 4-2 Sunday. Rookie 1st-round draft pick C Adam Fantilli is 2nd on the club with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists). But he’s out with a leg injury.

The Blues won their 5th in a row Sunday and 3rd in a row via overtime with a 4-3 finish over the Los Angeles Kings. C Brayden Schenn netted the OT winner for his 4th goal in the last 5 games. They are in a 3-way tie for a Wild Card, and this may actually be a must-win game for them as they’re off until Feb. 10. The Blues are 13-6-1 under interim head coach Drew Bannister.

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Blue Jackets at Blues odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:36 a.m. ET.

Blue Jackets at Blues projected goalies

Daniil Tarasov (3-5-2, 3.79 GAA, .881 SV%) vs. Jordan Binnington (17-12-2, 2.97 GAA, .907 SV%, 2 SO)

Tarasov allowed 3 goals on 25 shots in the loss to the Kraken Sunday. He has been the most dependable of the netminders, though, allowing 5 goals on 55 shots in his last 2 starts.

Binner’s numbers aren’t going to wow you, but he has played above his numbers and is having his best month of the season. He’s 6-1-1 with a 2.22 GAA and .927 SV% in January. He’s the major reason that the Blues are in a playoff position. He hasn’t faced Columbus since the season opener last year, when he stopped 23 of 25 shots in a 5-2 win.

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Blue Jackets at Blues picks and predictions

Prediction

Blues 5, Blue Jackets 2

The Blue Jackets smoked the Blues in a 5-2 haymaker as +135 underdogs last month. The Blues weren’t ready to play and maybe overlooked them. That was the beginning of the end for former coach Craig Berube. The team is playing miles better now and understand what’s at stake with the trade deadline looming and their need to prove they can compete.

I like the Blues here, but I’m not a fan of the -160 moneyline. Instead, take JORDAN KYROU UNDER 3.5 SHOTS (-130). He hasn’t had 4 shots on goal in 8 straight games and had just 2 in the first meeting with Columbus.

I’ll put a small-unit wager on BLUES -1.5 (+145). Aside from the egg they laid in December, 3 of the last 4 meetings resulted in multi-goal Blues victories.

The Blues have played in 4 straight 4-3 games, and Columbus has allowed 4+ goals in 7 of 9. There have been 7 goals in each of the last 5 meetings between the clubs. It’s not a bet I like to make, paying the vig on an Over 6.5, but it makes sense.

Take the OVER 6.5 (-120) or wait until puck drop to get a better live line.