Minnesota Wild vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, Preview, and Odds

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The Minnesota Wild face the Columbus Blue Jackets with both teams heading in opposite directions this season. The Wild have a 31-21-5 record and with three wins in a row have leaped to the middle of the Central Division. The Blue Jackets have an 18-34-5 record and are in last place in the Metropolitan Division as well as the Eastern Conference. Both teams are looking to improve within their divisions and the upcoming game should be a good one as a result.

Wild have been led by great defense

The Wild are having a great season but hope their offense can improve, scoring only 2.86 goals per game. Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Mats Zuccarello have scored 74 goals and 95 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has struggled. The hope is that Sam Steel and Ryan Hartman can step up as they play a pivotal role in the forward unit but have only scored 17 goals and 25 assists on the season thus far.

The offense has struggled but the defense has been great, allowing only 2.79 goals per game with only five goals in the last three games. Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin have combined for 8.4 defensive point shares and 241 blocked shots while Jacob Middleton and Mathew Dumba have combined for 5.8 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit. In addition, goaltender Filip Gustavsson has been great with a .928 save percentage and a 2.11 goals-against average on 738 shots with 16.7 goals saved above average.

Blue Jackets have struggled on both ends of the ice

The Blue Jackets are having a season to forget with their offense struggling and scoring only 2.54 goals per game with only two goals in their last game. Johnny Gaudreau, Boone Jenner, and Patrik Laine have combined for 48 goals and 71 assists but the rest of the offense has been awful. Only six active skaters have six goals or more and opponents can eliminate the hapless offense as a result.

The offense has been awful but the defense has also let them down, allowing 3.70 goals per game. Erik Gudbranson and Andrew Peeke have combined for 3.0 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. The one bright spot has been the play of goaltender Joonas Korpisalo who has a .912 save percentage and a 3.14 goals-against average on 854 shots with 5.6 goals saved above average.

Best Bets for this Game

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The Blue Jackets are looking to pull off the upset at home but I see the Wild building off of three consecutive wins and controlling this game on both ends of the ice. The Wild should find the back of the net at will against a Blue Jackets defense that allows 3.70 goals per game with Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with effective puck movement. The Wild, who allow only 2.79 goals per game, should limit the Blue Jackets' offense, which averages only 2.54 goals per game with Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Filip Gustavsson to make plenty of big saves. The Wild should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win on the road.

Prediction: Wild -1.5 (+140)

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Both teams have struggled on offense and I see this game being a low-scoring one from the opening puck drop. The Blue Jackets should limit the Wild offense, which averages only 2.86 goals per game, with Erik Gudbranson, Andrew Peeke, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to make plenty of big saves. The Wild, who have only allowed five goals in the last three games, should eliminate and potentially shut out the Blue Jackets, who only scored two goals in their recent game, with Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Jacob Middleton, and the rest of the defensive unit forcing turnovers in the neutral zone and defensive zone while goaltender Filip Gustavsson blanks the shots on the net. The Under should cover in a low-scoring game with both defenses stepping up.

Prediction: Under 6

Mike Fink is a sports writer and a passionate football fan. After graduating from college, Fink picked up the passion he had since being a young child in following and covering all things sports and we are very excited to have him as a part of the StatSalt team. In recent weeks, Mike started a podcast which you can find on Spotify, called "The Mike and Grover Show" and it discusses all things football. He covers all forms of sports betting and also bets on all of the plays he gives out. Mike would advise hockey betting since the odds give you great payouts "Hockey is built to bet the Money Line Underdogs. Be sure and follow him on a daily basis.