NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Blue Jackets vs Golden Knights (Saturday, March 23)
Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Jack Eichel.
Blue Jackets vs. Golden Knights Odds
| Blue Jackets Odds | +320 |
| Golden Knights Odds | -400 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -105o / -115u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, March 23 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
The Knights have played to a record of just 4-5-0 this month. Despite making additions at the trade deadline and having stars in Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore, their play has been a bit uneven.
Vegas has a good spot to fine tune its game on Saturday, hosting a Blue Jackets team that's lost seven of their last 10 games. Columbus is also on the tail end of a back to back, losing 6-1 to the Avalanche on Friday.
Continue reading for my Blue Jackets vs. Golden Knights prediction and pick.
The Blue Jackets have allowed the second-most goals this season at 3.63 goals against per game. They have allowed 3.61 xGA/60 over the entirety of the season and 33.45 shots against per 60.
Their control of play had actually trended up prior to this recent three-game losing skid, but their horrid injury situation is now worse than ever with Adam Boqvist and Yegor Chinakhov on the sidelines.
While coach Pascal Vincent has not done a good job getting the most out of a depleted roster, it is also clear that his forward corps does not feature much in the way of strong two-way players. Chinakhov has been one of the Blue Jackets' better forwards at both ends of the ice this season, so his absence is notable.
Daniil Tarasov is expected to start the second leg of this back-to-back spot after resting on Friday. Tarasov had been enjoying far better form before a shaky showing in Detroit on Thursday. He owns a -2.9 GSAx and .904 save percentage across 20 appearances.
The Golden Knights have been far from dominant for quite a while. Over their last 40 games, they are just 18-20-2 and their 48.99% expected goal share in that span ranks 22nd.
More than any other team though, we likely do not truly know the top level of this version of the Golden Knights. The dog days of the regular season are not going to interest many teams coming off a lengthy Cup run, and they have consistently played with a skeleton lineup, missing a ton of skaters.
The majority of those matchups came with Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore on the sidelines, as well as a ton of other roster mainstays having shorter stints on the IR. They added Anthony Mantha and Noah Hanifin at the deadline, as well as superstar forward Tomas Hertl. Don't forget about Captain Mark Stone, who could return in the postseason.
One consistent part of the Knights roster has been the trio of Eichel, Ivan Barbashev and Jonathan Marchessault, which is one of the best lines in the league. They have played to a 55.7% expected goal share in 337.8 minutes together.
Since returning on March 4, Eichel has put up nine points in eight games. Marchessault has put up seven points of his own in that span.
While the Knights' team play has not been at the standard we have come to expect, it's logical to believe they will trend up heading into the playoffs. What could be the greater concern for them is the struggles of Adin Hill in goal, as it seems more difficult to say for certain that he will find the form we saw during their Cup run.
Hill, who is expected to start Saturday, has played to a +10.3 GSAx and .914 save percentage over 31 appearances this season.
Blue Jackets vs. Golden Knights
Betting Pick & Prediction
By no means have the Knights been playing like a true contender recently. As their new-look lineup continues to come together though, I think that we will see them trend upward. They catch one of the league's worst teams in a super vulnerable spot on Saturday night, and I think they are likely to break through with a big offensive performance.
The Blue Jackets were routed by the Avalanche on Friday, allowing 51 shots in the drubbing. It might not be that bad tonight, but I still view four goals and 35 shots as pretty safe benchmarks for the Knights.
The price for the Knights to cover the puck line has moved all the way to -142. I don't mind that bet, but at this point I feel it is roughly a breakeven price.
Eichel, Marchessault and Barbashev form one of the league's most dangerous lines. They were incredible last postseason and have picked up where they left off since Eichel's return.
You can bet Eichel and Marchessault each to record a single point in this game on bet365 at -105; I believe that is worthy of a bet. Marchessault is priced at +105 to record over 3.5 shots on goal, and that is also worthy of a look.
Picks:
- Jonathan Marchessault Over 3.5 Shots on Goal +105 (DraftKings; play to +100)
- Jack Eichel & Marchessault Over 0.5 Points -105 (bet365; play to -110)
How would you rate this article?
Follow Us On Social
