The Columbus Blue Jackets (29-26-6) travel to meet the Minnesota Wild (30-23-4) Sunday at XCel Energy Center in St. Paul. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jackets vs. Wild odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Blue Jackets outlasted the Edmonton Oilers by a 6-5 score on home ice Saturday afternoon, then jumped a plane for the Twin Cities immediately after the victory. The road has actually been kind to Columbus lately, as it has points in 3 straight games away from home, going 2-0-1.
The Wild suffered a 2-1 loss in overtime on Friday night at Toronto. Minnesota’s last win was 2-0 in Columbus on Thursday night. The Wild have had a bit of a power outage lately, though, scoring 2 or fewer goals in 6 of the last 7 games, while averaging just 2.0 goals per game across the previous 11.
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Blue Jackets at Wild odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:51 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Blue Jackets +255 (bet $100 to win $255) | Wild -310 (bet $310 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jackets +1.5 (-110) | Wild -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Blue Jackets at Wild projected goalies
Elvis Merzlikins (6-15-1, 4.21 GAA, .873 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (17-13-3, 2.89 GAA, .904 SV%, 2 SO)
Merzlikins has been a little better lately than his season numbers, allowing 3 goals in each of his last 4 outings. He is 1-1-1 with a 2.97 GAA and .895 SV% in 3 February starts, as he slowly is starting to show signs of life.
Fleury turned aside all 30 shots he faced in the 1st meeting in Columbus Thursday, posting his 2nd shutout of the season. That victory snapped a 3-game losing streak. He’s 1-3-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .898 SV% in 4 February outings.
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Blue Jackets at Wild picks and predictions
Prediction
Wild 3, Blue Jackets 1
Moneyline
The Wild (-310) will cost you more than 3 times your potential return, and that’s too expensive, even as part of a multi-team parlay. Even though Minnesota won 2-0 Thursday in Columbus, it’s too much risk for not enough reward.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The WILD -1.5 (-110) on the puck line is a much better play.
Minnesota covered the puck line in Columbus behind Fleury. Expect the offense to be a little better on both sides in the rematch, but for the result to be the same. It might take an empty-net goal to get over the hump, however, so go lightly.
Over/Under
The UNDER 5.5 (+100) at even-money is the play in Sunday’s matinee action in the Twin Cities.
We had a total of just 2 goals in Thursday’s meeting. We should see a little more offense, especially since the Blue Jackets have more offensive confidence after rolling up 6 goals Saturday against the Oilers.
The Under is 14-2-1 in Minnesota’s last 17 home games, however, while going 7-0 in the last 7 against Eastern Conference teams.
The Under has cashed at a 4-1-1 clip in the last 6 road games for Columbus, but going 6-0 in the previous 6 outings against Central Division foes.
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