PREMIUM
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(NHL) Winnipeg vs. Columbus,
Money Line: -179.00 Columbus (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -179.00 Columbus (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Columbus Blue Jackets have opened 6-3-0 but need a win here at home against Winnipeg tonight, to earn a split of what's been a four-game homestand. The Blue Jackets began this current stretch at Nationwide Arena with losses to Tampa Bay and Los Angeles, before turning the tide with a 5-1 triumph over Buffalo on Wednesday.
The Jets come into this game at 4-3-1 and will be looking to extend their road point streak to four contests, after a 2-1 overtime loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Winnipeg: Josh Morrissey scored the lone goal for Winnipeg as it suffered its 17th consecutive loss in Pittsburgh to the two-time defending champs. Coming off a five-day break, the Jets played the Penguins to a stalemate Thursday before a turnover led to Phil Kessel's winning goal 67 seconds into the extra period. "Not a bad way to start the road trip," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. "We've to go into Columbus and make amends for our last game and play a quicker game and keep going." Nikolaj Ehlers has scored all of his team-leading six goals over his last six contests.
Columbus: Thirteen players found their way onto the scoresheet in Wednesday's 5-1 win, as the Blue Jackets had five different goal-scorers. Nick Foligno has been a consistent scorer for the Jets so far, notching at least one point in seven of his nine games. The captain has recorded a goal in three of his last four contests and ranks second on the team with eight points, two behind leader Artemi Panarin.
The Blue Jackets are off to their best start in franchise history but head coach John Tortorella is still tinkering with his forward lines. He was unhappy with the chemistry early in the Wednesday game and he shuffled the lines several times in an attempt to find suitable pairings. Tortorella said he thinks he found several combinations that worked well together, including a top three of Nick Foligno, Josh Anderson and Artemi Panarin (Foligno and Anderson scored against the Sabres).
The pick: Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck (4-1-0, 2.25 GAA & .931 SP) had a big game Thursday, stopping 34 shots, but it is uncertain who will start in the net against the Blue Jackets. Backup Steve Mason hasn't started since the last game against Columbus (Oct. 17), when the Jets lost 5-2 at home to the Blue Jackets. Word is that Mason will bet the start, which I'd like, as he's 0-3-0 with a 5.98 GAA and .86 SP this season.. Sergei Bobrovsky (5-2-0, 2.00 GAA & .934 SP) is expected to start in goal for Blue Jackets and regardless of who is in goal, it's an 8* play on Columbus.
The Jets come into this game at 4-3-1 and will be looking to extend their road point streak to four contests, after a 2-1 overtime loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Winnipeg: Josh Morrissey scored the lone goal for Winnipeg as it suffered its 17th consecutive loss in Pittsburgh to the two-time defending champs. Coming off a five-day break, the Jets played the Penguins to a stalemate Thursday before a turnover led to Phil Kessel's winning goal 67 seconds into the extra period. "Not a bad way to start the road trip," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. "We've to go into Columbus and make amends for our last game and play a quicker game and keep going." Nikolaj Ehlers has scored all of his team-leading six goals over his last six contests.
Columbus: Thirteen players found their way onto the scoresheet in Wednesday's 5-1 win, as the Blue Jackets had five different goal-scorers. Nick Foligno has been a consistent scorer for the Jets so far, notching at least one point in seven of his nine games. The captain has recorded a goal in three of his last four contests and ranks second on the team with eight points, two behind leader Artemi Panarin.
The Blue Jackets are off to their best start in franchise history but head coach John Tortorella is still tinkering with his forward lines. He was unhappy with the chemistry early in the Wednesday game and he shuffled the lines several times in an attempt to find suitable pairings. Tortorella said he thinks he found several combinations that worked well together, including a top three of Nick Foligno, Josh Anderson and Artemi Panarin (Foligno and Anderson scored against the Sabres).
The pick: Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck (4-1-0, 2.25 GAA & .931 SP) had a big game Thursday, stopping 34 shots, but it is uncertain who will start in the net against the Blue Jackets. Backup Steve Mason hasn't started since the last game against Columbus (Oct. 17), when the Jets lost 5-2 at home to the Blue Jackets. Word is that Mason will bet the start, which I'd like, as he's 0-3-0 with a 5.98 GAA and .86 SP this season.. Sergei Bobrovsky (5-2-0, 2.00 GAA & .934 SP) is expected to start in goal for Blue Jackets and regardless of who is in goal, it's an 8* play on Columbus.
