The Columbus Blue Jackets (20-38-7) kick off a 5-game road trip Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks (19-36-12) at SAP Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jackets vs. Sharks odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Blue Jackets have dropped 4 consecutive games, going 0-3-1 during the span, while cashing the Over in 3 straight. Columbus has scored 2 or more goals in 7 straight outings, which is great news, but it has also coughed up 4 or more goals in 4 in a row, and 3 or more goals in 7 consecutive outings.
The Sharks were dumped 5-2 at home against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night, and it has dropped 3 straight games while being outscored 15-4. San Jose has allowed 3 or more goals in 8 of the previous 9 contests.
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Blue Jackets at Sharks odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:36 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Blue Jackets +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Sharks -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jackets +1.5 (-190) | Sharks -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +110)
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Blue Jackets at Sharks projected goalies
Michael Hutchinson (0-1-1, 4.36 GAA, .873 SV%) vs. Kaapo Kahkonen (8-16-5, 3.82 GAA, .879 SV%, 1 SO)
Hutchinson allowed 4 goals on 23 shots on Friday in his 1st start with the organization after being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights. He has allowed on 10 goals on 79 shots in 3 appearances with Columbus so far.
Kahkonen has coughed up 4 or more goals in each of his 3 starts in March, which has been a miserable month for the backstop. He is 0-3-0 with a horrific 7.19 GAA and .798 SV% in the month.
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Blue Jackets at Sharks picks and predictions
Prediction
Blue Jackets 4, Sharks 3
Moneyline
Both of these teams are bad. But the BLUE JACKETS (+125) have been at least somewhat functional lately, especially on offense. This team has at least a point in 4 of the last 7 games, and 7 of the previous 11 outings.
The Sharks (-145) are rather heavy favorites for a team which is just 13-40 in the past 53 games at home. While the home team is 4-0 in the last 4 in this series, which seems to point to San Jose as a winner, the underdog is 7-2 in the previous 9 in the series.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Blue Jackets +1.5 (-190) are just a tad bit too expensive if you need some insurance, and can’t play Columbus straight up.
AVOID.
Over/Under
OVER 6.5 (-130) is the best play on the board against a pair of teams which have struggled defensively and in the crease lately.
The Over has cashed in 4 of the last 5 games overall for the Blue Jackets, while going 22-7-2 in the past 31 home games for the Sharks. The Over is 6-2 in the last 8 against Metropolitan Division teams for San Jose, too.
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