Canucks vs. Blue Jackets Odds
| Canucks Odds | -210 |
| Blue Jackets Odds | +172 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 -128 / +104 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Canucks vs. Blue Jackets on Monday, Jan. 15 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
The Canucks finished a season long seven-game road trip Monday with a sixth consecutive win. Thatcher Demko was brilliant in Saturday's 1-0 win in Buffalo in what was his fifth start of the trip. This could be a logical spot for the league-leading Canucks to manage Demko's workload though, in a game which could be viewed as an easy two points.
The Blue Jackets collapsed yet again in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Kraken, to move to just 2-4-4 in the their last 10 outings. They rank 29th in the league standings, and own a record of 8-12-4 on home ice.
Let's preview the upcoming contest and dive into my Canucks vs. Blue Jackets prediction.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks enter this matchup sitting atop the league with 61 points in 43 games, leading in both goal differential and regulation wins. They will have no notable absences from the lineup, and the only relevant note on the lineup is that it could be a likely spot to rest Thatcher Demko.
Demko has played in six of seven contests to start the month for Vancouver, which makes this matchup versus one of the league's worst sides a prime target to manage his workload. If Demko plays today, bettors should assume he will backup Thursday versus Arizona.
Demko is certainly more than deserving of rest too. His +16.4 GSAx ranks second league wide, and he has put up a .919 save % in 31 games played this season. Backup Casey DeSmith has played well thus far, but he is not likely to play at a level anywhere near that of Demko.
The Canucks are playing at a high level right now too, goaltending aside. They own a 55.99% expected goal rating in the last 10 games, and have received an offensive boost from reuniting the "lotto" line, while still getting strong play from the other three offensive units.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets have followed a consistent rhythm over the last month of play. They tend to either lose in overtime, or to a team entering the matchup playing exceptionally well. That trend continued in Saturday's loss to the Kraken, who won their 10th straight game. Even still, the Blue Jackets played step-for-step with them at even strength for the vast majority of the game, and could have built upon several of their early leads with more clinical finishing.
Nobody is trying to make the case that Columbus is good here, but they also would be looking far more competitive if they won some of their recent games ending in shootout or three-on-three. A nightmare schedule dating back over the last month has also hurt their form and underlying results, too.
In the last 10 games they have played to a 43.31% expected goals rating. While that mark sounds like a case to bet against the Blue Jackets, if they can control play at that level as +180 underdogs, it would actually be an argument in their favor.
The loss of Zach Werenski to injury is critical, but the Blue Jackets current injury situation is actually still better than it has been for much of the season. Here is how they lined up at practice Sunday.
| Columbus Blue Jackets | |
|---|---|
| Forwards Johnny Gaudreau (13) – Cole Sillinger (4) – Yegor Chinakhov (59) Kent Johnson (91) – Adam Fantilli (11) – Emil Bemstrom (52) Dmitry Voronkov (10) – Jack Roslovic (96) – Kirill Marchenko (86) Alex Texier (42) – Sean Kuraly (7) – Justin Danforth (17) Defense Damon Severson (78) – Adam Boqvist (27) Ivan Provorov (9) – Adam Peeke (2) Jake Bean (22) – Erik Gudbranson (44) |
Elvis Merzlikins will start in goal for the Blue Jackets. He has played to a +1.0 GSAx and .907 save % across 12 games this season.
ESPN Bet is now live, and hockey fans can use our exclusive ESPN BET promo code TANBONUS.
Canucks vs. Blue Jackets
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Canucks are playing at an elite level, and continue to display balanced play in all areas. Yes they have had some fortunate luck at times this season, but they have a top-two goaltender and strong finishing abilities among the top-six. We do not need to discredit anything that the Canucks have done to think that Columbus is live here at +180 though.
Though the Werenski injury is critical, the Blue Jackets roster still looks better now than it has for much of the season. Their games have been more and more competitive recently, and even in their loss Saturday at even strength, they did some things well. They have played against a lot of quality opponents recently, and often times played to their betting price and then some.
If some of the Blue Jackets better recent performances had ended in victories as they could have, this number would be much shorter, and a nightmare schedule has tanked their underlying results. More often than not, Columbus will not win this game, but I think they will surprise and play to their lofty price of +180.
Keep your eye out for Demko/Martin's save prop as well. If the betting total is set at 26.5 or lower, backing the over would provide value to -125.
Pick: Blue Jackets ML (+180 | Play to +175)
