Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Blue Jackets vs Islanders NHL Odds
Looking for Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York Islanders free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Blue Jackets taking on the Islanders on Saturday March 18th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(45-18-6) Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York Islanders (33-26-11)
Date: Saturday, March 16th
Time: 1:00 PM
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Blue Jackets -120
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds:
NHL Betting Total: 6
Live NHL Odds
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Metropolitan Division rivals will clash in Saturday matinee game at the Barclays Center. The Islanders are fighting for their playoff lives, while the Blue Jackets are surprisingly in a race for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Yes, you read that correct, the Blue Jackets are in fact in a race for the top spot in the East, as well as the entire NHL. Columbus has been the biggest surprise of the season as the team that finished 27th last year, is now in a battle for the Presidents Trophy.
Speaking of trophies, coach John Tortorella has to be a lock for the Jack Adams, as this team has pulled off an incredible turnaround in a very short period of time under Torts’ tenure.
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The Jackets don’t have a ton of flashy names and superstar talent, but they are just an all-around solid squad top to bottom that can beat you in a number of ways.
Cam Atkinson is enjoying a career season and sits fifth in the NHL in goals with 32.
Captain Nick Foligno is having a great bounce back season after a disappointing 2015-16 campaign and has racked up 24 goals and 47 points in 66 games, after managing just 37 points in 72 games a season ago.
That is really the story of the Blue Jackets this year, in that everyone seems to be having a solid season and there are no passengers in this lineup
They’re on pace to potentially have six 20-goal scorers and six players with 50 or more points. That’s a great amount of depth and this team will be a tough matchup for anyone come playoff time.
New York Islanders
This team is very hard to get a good read on, as they’ve looked brilliant some nights and flat out awful on others.
The Isles have put together a strong run under new coach Doug Weight, since former bench boss Jack Capuano was canned.
The Isles find themselves in a dogfight for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, which is going to be a thrilling race to the finish with three teams (Toronto, New York, Tampa Bay) separated by just a single point at the moment.
This team either wins close ones, or loses in ugly fashion. In their last eight losses, the Isles have fallen by scores of 7-1, 7-0, 5-2, and 8-4.
When half of your losses result in you being outscored by a count of 27-7, you’ve got some defensive issues.
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Goaltending has been a nightmare for much of the season, which was kick-started with Jaroslav Halak being sent to the AHL.
Thomas Greiss has had some flashes of brilliance, but he’s battling consistency issues, especially now that he’s getting into foreign territory with the amount of games he’s played.
NHL Betting Trends:
- Blue Jackets are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. Metropolitan
- Blue Jackets are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. a team with a losing record
- Blue Jackets are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference
- Columbus won the last meeting between the two 7-0
- Blue Jackets have outscored the Islanders 15-6 this season in their four meetings
Free Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York Islanders NHL Hockey Prediction:
The Islanders have a lot more to lose in this one, but it’s not as if the Jackets aren’t playing for anything themselves. Columbus should roll in this one and poke another hole in the the Isles’ playoff hopes.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Blue Jackets -120
Go with Columbus to win this one outright, I don’t see it being another 7-0 affair, but the Jackets are rolling right now at 7-2-1 in their last 10 and will keep it going.
NHL Free Score Prediction: Columbus 5 – New York 2
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