NHL matchups, odds to watch: January 28
NHL.com identifies key gameday matchups and players to watch throughout the 2023-24 season.
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1. Columbus Blue Jackets at Seattle Kraken (9 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSOH, SN)
CBJ moneyline: +200
SEA moneyline: -260
The Kraken had a nine-game winning streak from Dec. 20 to Jan. 13, and the final game of that stretch was a 7-4 victory at the Blue Jackets on Jan. 13. But Seattle is 1-4-1 in its next six games. Columbus, after defeating the NHL-leading Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in a shootout on Jan. 15 at home, played them again Saturday and lost 5-4 in overtime on the road. Seattle ranks 10th in the NHL in shot attempts percentage (51.4), while Columbus is 24th (47.6).
Kraken forward Jared McCann leads them in goals (five), points (11 in 11 games) and power-play points (four) since Jan. 1. McCann (two goals, one assist) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (one goal, two assists) each had three points against Columbus earlier in the season, with Bjorkstrand’s performance coming against his former team. Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko leads them in shots on goal (31 in 10 games) since Jan. 1 and had a multipoint game (one goal, one assist) against Seattle earlier in the season. Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski has two assists and four shots on goal in two games since returning from injury.
2. Boone Jenner (CBJ) shots on goal prop
Over 2.5 shots on goal for Jenner: +120
Under 2.5 shots on goal for Jenner: -152
Jenner has no points in four games since returning from injury but has 10 shots on goal in the span, including four SOG in his most-recent game at the Canucks on Saturday. The Columbus captain leads them in goals per game (0.39; 13 in 33 games) and shots on goal per game (2.76; 91) this season.
The Kraken are allowing the 10th-fewest shots on goal per game (29.6) in the NHL, and the Blue Jackets rank 22nd in SOG per game (29.6). Jenner has two assists and 11 shots on goal in four career games against Seattle.
3. Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues (2 p.m. ET; BSMW, BSW, NHLN, TVAS)
LAK moneyline: -165
STL moneyline: +135
Since Dec. 28, the Kings have the fewest wins (2-8-5 in past 15 games) in the NHL. Los Angeles, despite its recent struggles, still has the best penalty kill percentage (87.1) in the NHL and is allowing the third-fewest shots on goal per game (27.9). The Kings also had a 5-1 home win against the Blues on Nov. 18, led by forward Adrian Kempe’s multipoint game (one goal, one assist). But St. Louis is on a four-game winning streak after sweeping its three-game road trip at the Calgary Flames, Canucks and Kraken this week.
Kings forward Kevin Fiala leads them in points (11 in 13 games) since Jan. 1. Blues center Robert Thomas leads them in points (12 in 11 games) and power-play points (five) since Jan. 1. St. Louis forward Pavel Buchnevich has four points (three goals, one assist) in his past two games. Blues goalie Jordan Binnington is 6-1-1 with a .927 save percentage and one shutout in his past eight games.
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