Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Blue Jackets vs Panthers NHL Odds
Looking for Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Florida Panthers free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Blue Jackets taking on the Panthers on Saturday, April 3rd, 2021 at the BB&T Center, Maimi, Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Blue Jackets Panthers matchup.
NHL Handicapping Analysis
(14-16-8) Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Florida Panthers (24-9-4)
Date: Saturday, April 3rd, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: BB&T Center, Maimi, Florida
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: +130 / -149
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: OFF
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus can hold their head high off the back of their last two game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they split that series, but were very competitive in their loss to the Lightning losing only by a score of 3-2 to the defending champions.
Oliver Bjorkstrand has elevated himself this year to the number one producer on offense, as he already has 13 goals and 17 assists and now that he is the focal point of the offense those numbers should only improve from here.
Elvis Merzlikins is the projected starter for this matchup and I like the Blue Jackets a bit better when he starts of Korpisalo, as I believe Elvis to be the superior goalie and his stats, particularly his save percentage, back that up coming into this contest with a .917 ave %.
Florida Panthers
It looked for a second there that the Tampa Bay Lightning had got away from the Panthers, but this resilient Florida team has responded with 4 straight wins and are now back within a point of the Lightning who sit atop the division.
The early reports are that Aaron Ekblad will be out for at least 12 weeks after he had successful leg surgery, so this Stanley Cup run is going to have to be completed without one of their best players which is going to be seriously tough to do.
The reason that Ekblad injury is so crucial is that this Panthers team was not playing great defense with their top blue-liner, so things could get real ugly without him in the mix.
NHL Betting Trends:
- Blue Jackets are 5-11 in their last 16 games as an underdog.
- Blue Jackets are 6-20 in their last 26 Saturday games.
- Blue Jackets are 3-11 in their last 14 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Panthers are 6-1 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Panthers are 5-1 in their last 6 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Panthers are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
- Panthers are 9-3 in their last 12 games as a favorite.
Free Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Florida Panthers NHL Prediction:
This will probably be a tight game, but I still think the Panthers will be able to get the job done here against Columbus even without Ekblad. The Panthers still have their arsenal of offensive weapons and it is hard for me to imagine the Blue Jackets keeping up even without Ekblad.
I also think the Panthers should be slightly bigger favorites here, although I understand why a line like this is out there with the question marks around the Panthers going forward, but I do still see -149 as value on the moneyline.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Panthers moneyline
Take the Florida Panthers on the moneyline this Saturday and cash in on NHL action.
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