Devils vs. Blue Jackets Prediction and Odds

The New Jersey Devils hit the road to face the Columbus Blue Jackets in a big Metropolitan Division matchup tonight at Nationwide Arena. Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning in the final stretch of the NHL season, but only one can walk away with 2 points in this St. Patrick’s Day showdown.

The bookmakers have the Devils as slight favorites at -135 on the moneyline, while Columbus sits at near even at +115. With the puck dropping at 6:00 PM ET, you have plenty of time to get your bets in and get lucky with our Devils vs. Blue Jackets prediction.

Can the Devils take advantage of a struggling Columbus team, or will the Blue Jackets pull off the upset at home?

Odds & Recent Form

The Devils come in as -135 favorites, which makes sense to us given their higher place in the standings, but we have to dig a little deeper to see how this game will play out. Columbus is +115 underdogs, but playing at home could be a big factor as well. With the over/under set at 8.5 goals, even the bookmakers are thinking this game could be a shootout, but even that number might be a stretch.

New Jersey, has been somewhat inconsistent lately. They’ve gone 5-5 in their last 10 games and looking to tip the scales in their favor. Their most recent loss was a 7-3 blowout against Pittsburgh, but they picked up wins against some decent teams such as Edmonton, Columbus, and Philadelphia.

Columbus, meanwhile, is undoubtedly trending downward. They’ve lost 3 straight games, including back-to-back shutouts against the Rangers and Panthers. That’s not a good look. They did, however, manage a win over Winnipeg, but their recent form doesn’t inspire confidence heading into tonight’s matchup.

The season series is tied 1-1, with Columbus winning the first meeting in December 4-2, while New Jersey took the second game just last week 5-3.

Devils’ Edge in Scoring & Special Teams

The Devils have an advantage offensively and there’s no questioning that. They’re scoring a decent 2.99 goals per game, slightly below the league average, but still far better than Columbus’ 3.23 GA/G allowed.

Jesper Bratt with 79 points and Nico Hischier with 28 goals lead the way for New Jersey as they deliver consistent offensive production night after night. Their power play sits at 27.5%, one of the better in the NHL, and is a strong number that could exploit a Columbus PK unit that ranks just 75.4%.

Columbus’ Goaltending Issues

Elvis Merzlikins has been shaky in the net for the Blue Jackets. He’s posting a 3.04 GAA and a .896 save percentage, both of which are in the lower half of the league’s starting netminders. Backup Daniil Tarasov hasn’t been much better, either, with a dismal 3.52 GAA and a .882 SV%. That’s a big problem when going up against a Devils offense that can capitalize on defensive lapses and have no problem getting past some of the best goalies in the league.

On the other side of the ice, New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom with his 2.45 GAA and .902 SV% gives them a clear edge in between the pipes. His numbers aren’t what we would call elite, but they’re more reliable than what Columbus has to offer.

Home-Ice Advantage for Columbus?

The Blue Jackets are fairly decent at home with a 17-12-4 record, compared to New Jersey’s 19-15-2 road record. Nationwide Arena has been a tougher place for other teams to play this season, but with Columbus’ recent form, that edge might not be enough to swing the game in their favor.

Prediction & Best Bet

Columbus is struggling, and their lack of scoring in recent games is a concern. They haven’t found the back of the net in the last 2 games. Their goaltending isn’t holding up much either, and while they’re at home, New Jersey has a clear advantage in offense, goaltending, and special teams.

The Devils have already proven they can beat Columbus this season, and with the Blue Jackets coming off back-to-back shutouts, it’s hard to trust them here. We see this game unfolding only one way.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Devils 3, Blue Jackets 1
• Best Bet: Devils Moneyline (-135)

New Jersey should take care of business on the road and against the Blue Jackets, they shouldn’t have much trouble either. The odds aren’t huge, but with Columbus’ current struggles, it’s the smarter play.

If you’re looking for a little extra value, the Devils -1.5 (+175) puck line is worth a look, especially with Columbus failing to score in 2 of their last 3 games.