Wild vs Blue Jackets Prediction, Stream, Odds and Picks, Feb 23
The Minnesota Wild are getting hot again after suffering an extended losing stretch. They had lost five of their previous six games before ripping off three straight wins.
They’re favored in the sportsbook to keep it going when they visit Columbus on Thursday, one of the worst teams in the NHL. The Blue Jackets saw their two-game winning streak snapped on Sunday after losing to the Arizona Coyotes in overtime.
Are the Wild a good bet here or will the Blue Jackets surprise?
Let’s check the latest NHL news, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Wild vs Blue Jackets.
Wild: Recent Road Troubles
The Minnesota Wild might have some momentum but you have to be careful with them if you bet online. This is a team that has struggled on the road, going 12-11-3. They’ve lost five straight on the road.
The good news is that the Wild might really have something in the crease with Filip Gustavsson. He’s been mostly riding a backseat to Marc-Andre Fleury this season but lately, he’s appeared to have taken a step forward.
Fleury has still appeared in more games, with 34 compared to Gustavsson’s 26. However, Gustavsson is taking the reins, starting five of the last six contests.
On the season, Gustavsson is 15-8-2 with a 2.11 GAA and a .928 save percentage. He’s currently boasting the second-best GAA among all goaltenders and the second-best save percentage.
In February, Gustavsson is 4-1-1 with a 1.69 GAA and a .944 save percentage. If he’s in net, the Wild are more likely to cash for your NHL picks.
Blue Jackets: Confusing for Bettors
Columbus has been one of the worst teams in the NHL throughout most of the season but that hasn’t stopped them from randomly showing up on the ice. They’ve won three of their last five games, all of which spots where they were big dogs on the NHL betting odds.
They took down the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and Dallas Stars by a combined score of 11-5. The Blue Jackets are hoping that these recent wins can offer more momentum for them down the stretch of the season.
It does feel like the Jackets have figured a few things out coming off the All-Star break. Joonas Korpisalo has been their best option recently and has an impressive .954 save percentage this month. If he plays like that, the Blue Jackets will have a legit opportunity to win here.
Wild vs Blue Jackets Game Injuries
These teams haven’t met up in nearly a year during the regular season, with the Wild winning the last game by a goal.
Wild vs Blue Jackets Game Information
- Game: Wild (31-21-5) Blue Jackets (18-34-5)
- Location: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
- Day/Time: Thursday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m. ET
- Wild vs Blue Jackets Live Stream: NHL.TV
Wild vs Blue Jackets Betting Lines
Wild vs Blue Jackets Prediction
Columbus has fought hard since the All-Star break and maybe they’re worth a look here. They’ve taken down a few quality teams lately and we know that the Wild are not a great road team.
It’s tough to lay juice here with the Wild, so either take a flier on the Blue Jackets or consider the under as two goaltenders are playing well.
Minnesota is listed at -170 in our Vegas NHL lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Wild, there’s a chance to win $59. Columbus is +150 with a chance to win $150 on a $100 wager. The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Blue Jackets a 40% chance to win, with the Wild at 62.96%.
