Florida Panthers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The Panthers are having a great season with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.08 goals per game. Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, and Carter Verhaeghe have scored 38 goals and 42 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has been great as well. Evan Rodrigues, Matthew Tkachuk, and Kevin Stenlund have combined for 16 goals and 32 assists while defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Niko Mikkola have added 10 goals and 14 assists from the point to open up the offense.The offense has been great but the defense has been incredible, allowing only 2.54 goals per game with only five goals in the last two games. Gustav Forsling and Niko Mikkola have combined for 4.2 defensive point shares and 88 blocked shots while Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov have combined for 2.5 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit. In addition, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been great with a .913 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average on 550 shots with 5.1 goals saved above average.
The Blue Jackets are having a rough season with their offense struggling, scoring only 2.86 goals per game. Boone Jenner, Johnny Gaudreau, and Adam Fantilli have combined for 24 goals and 24 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has struggled. Only four skaters have scored six goals or more and opponents can limit the top-heavy offense as a result.The offense has struggled but the defense has let the Blue Jackets down, allowing 3.50 goals per game with 16 goals in the last four games. Zach Werenski and Ivan Provorov have combined for 2.3 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net with ease. In addition, goaltender Spencer Martin has struggled with a .892 save percentage and a 3.57 goals-against average on 333 shots with -3.8 goals saved above average.
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Best Bets for this Game
Insiders Status:
The Blue Jackets are looking to step up at home but the Panthers are having a great season and look to step up and take over this game. The Panthers, who average 3.08 goals per game, should find the back of the net at will against the Blue Jackets, who allow 3.50 goals per game, with Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes. The Panthers, who allow only 2.54 goals per game, should limit the Blue Jackets offense with Gustav Forsling, Niko Mikkola, and the rest of the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to make plenty of big saves. The Panthers should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win on the road.
Prediction: Panthers -1.5 (-105)
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Insiders Status:
The Panthers have a great defense and both defensive units look to step up and dominate this game. The Blue Jackets should limit the Panthers' offense with Zach Werenski, Ivan Provorov, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Spencer Martin to make plenty of big saves. The Panthers, who have allowed only five goals in the last two games, should eliminate and potentially shut out the Blue Jackets, who average only 2.86 goals per game, with Gustav Forsling, Niko Mikkola, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and the rest of the defensive unit forcing turnovers in all three zones while goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky blanks the shots on the net. The Under should cover in a low-scoring game with both defenses stepping up.
