It’s an interconference tilt on the ice as a pair of teams trying to pick up two points collide on the ice in the Buckeye State when the Vegas Golden Knights take on the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night and we have the inside scoop with our Golden Knights vs. Blue Jackets prediction. Vegas fell 3-2 in overtime on the road by Pittsburgh in their previous contest Tuesday night. Columbus fell 5-3 on the road to New Jersey in their previous game Tuesday night. In the last 10 games between the teams, the Blue Jackets hold a 5-4-1 advantage, including a 2-1 overtime win on the road in the first meeting this season on January 30. Read more about this Golden Knights vs. Blue Jackets prediction! Do you need a boost in your handicapping? Try our NHL Predictions and light the lamp!
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Vegas Looking to Extend Pacific Division Lead
Vegas picked up a point on the road in Pittsburgh but ended up falling in overtime, leaving them without the second point Tuesday night. The Golden Knights entered Wednesday 38-19-7 and stood first in the Pacific Division standings, leaving them five points ahead of the Oilers for the top spot in the division. Vegas entered Thursday’s action 5th in the league in goals for as they average 3.34 goals per contest on the season. The Golden Knights are 9th in the league in goals against as they give up an average of 2.73 goals per game this season. Vegas is 2nd in power play success as they cash in on 28.9% of their opportunities with the man advantage. The Golden Knights are 23rd in the league in penalty killing as they have successfully navigated through 76.2% of their shorthanded situations on the season.
Against Pittsburgh, Vegas rallied to get a point but ended up falling as they were beaten in overtime on the road Tuesday night. The Golden Knights held a 9-4 advantage in shots in the opening period of play but trailed 1-0 at the first intermission. In the second period, Vegas held a 9-8 edge in shots on goal with both teams scoring once, leaving them down 2-1 after 40 minutes. After giving up a goal to trail 2-0, Pavel Dorofeyev got the Golden Knights on the board with his 25th goal of the season, on the power play, at 14:29 off assists from Noah Hanifin and Jack Eichel. In the third period, Vegas held a 19-4 advantage in shots and scored the lone goal of the period to tie the game. Hanifin tallied his ninth goal of the season at 19:53 off assists from Mark Stone and Dorofeyev to even things up and force overtime. During the extra session, the Golden Knights gave up the lone shot on goal and it found the back of the net, sending them to defeat. Ilya Samsonov made 14 saves for Vegas, who held a 37-17 advantage in shots, in the loss. Adin Hill is expected to be between the pipes in this contest.
Blue Jackets Fighting in Wild Card Chase
Columbus fell for the third time in four games as they were beaten on the road by New Jersey Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets entered Wednesday 31-25-8 on the season and stood fourth in the Metropolitan Division, 24 points behind the Capitals for the top spot. They are six points behind the Devils for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the division. They owned the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Columbus is 6th in goals per game as they score an average of 3.33 goals per game. The Blue Jackets are 27th in goals against as they surrender an average of 3.31 goals per contest. Columbus is 20th in power play success as they have converted 20.1% of their chances with the man advantage. The Blue Jackets are 24th in the league in penalty killing by successfully working through 75.4% of their shorthanded situations on the year.
Against New Jersey, Columbus struggled in their own end of the ice and it ended up costing them two points. The Blue Jackets were outshot 11-6 in the opening period of play and trailed 3-0 on the scoreboard at the first intermission. In the second period, Columbus was outshot 11-8 but outscored New Jersey 2-1 to trail 4-2 after 40 minutes of play. Mathieu Olivier got the Blue Jackets on the board with his 14th goal of the year at 3:30 off assists from Denton Mateychuk and Kent Johnson. Kirill Marchenko got Columbus within a goal with his 25th goal of the year at 7:16 off assists from Adam Fantilli and Zach Werenski. They gave up a goal later in the period to trail by a pair. In the third period, Columbus saw the shots even at six with each team scoring once, leaving them on the wrong end of the scoreboard. After giving up a goal in the opening minute of the period to trail 5-2, Olivier scored his second goal of the game and 15th of the season at 10:29 with Boone Jenner drawing the lone assist. That was as close as they would get as they went down in defeat. Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves for the Blue Jackets, who were outshot 28-20, in the loss. He is slated to get the start in goal again here.
Best Bets for Vegas Golden Knights vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
We know that both teams are excellent at putting the puck in the net as Vegas is fifth in the league in goals per game while Columbus is sixth in that category. The problem for the Blue Jackets is that they can’t keep the puck out of their own net with any regularity. Ranking 27th in the league in goals against means you have to do plenty of damage in order to make up for a subpar defensive showing. Vegas is solid enough in their own end of the ice and they have a winning (14-12-4) mark on the road this season. The Golden Knights should be able to do enough offensively to skate away with a win here, splitting the season series.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Vegas comes in averaging 3.7 goals per game in their last 10 games while allowing 2.6 a night in that stretch. The Golden Knights average 3.03 goals a night as the visiting team on the season. They have split their last 10 games in relation to the total. Columbus has put up an average of 3.8 goals a night while allowing 3.4 goals a night in their last 10 games. The Blue Jackets are an explosive offensive team at home, allowing 4.07 goals a night in those contests. Columbus has seen the over go 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. With their inability to slow teams down and their own offensive firepower, look for this game to wind up over the mark.
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