Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks December 23 Betting Preview

It’s the night before the night before Christmas, and besides these storms subsiding, we have only one thing unfulfilled on our wishlist: the Columbus Blue Jackets to end a five-game losing streak!

Fortunately for CBJ players, fans, and sports bettors alike, the opponent couldn’t be better to do that against as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Blue Jackets, having lost eight games in a row.

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Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview

The Blue Jackets have a 10-20-2 record and have lost the last five games in a row. In this five-game losing streak, only one game has hit the over of 6.5 goals, while four games ended in a 1.5-goal spread. The under is 5-1 in CBJ’s last six games against Western Conference competition and in Columbus’ last six road games.

The Blue Jackets might be 5-12 in the last 17 games in Chicago, but the road team is 6-0 in the previous six meetings.

Columbus is ranked 27th in the NHL in scoring, averaging 2.7 goals on 29.4 shots per game. Defensively, Columbus is ranked 31st, averaging 4.0 goals on 35.5 shots per game. Over the five-game losing streak, Columbus has averaged 1.4 goals per game while giving up an average of 3.8 goals per game.

The powerplay is ranked 31st in the league, converting at 15.1 percent. Columbus’ penalty kill is ranked 18th in the NHL, killing off 77.8 percent of CBJ’s penalties.

Elvis Merzlikins (4-8-0, 4.68 GAA) is still listed as day-to-day, so we are not sure when Elvis will be back in the building. With Joonas Korpisalo (4-5-1, 3.53 GAA) listed as probable after time on the injured list, we expect Daniil Tarasov (2-7-1, 3.13 GAA) to get his fifth start in a row.

Chicago Blackhawks Betting Preview

The Chicago Blackhawks are among the leading candidates for the 2023 number-one overall draft pick and Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks have a 7-20-4 record and have lost eight straight games. Chicago has averaged 1.12 goals across those eight games while averaging 4.38 goals against.

The Blackhawks are 0-4 in the last four games against Central Division competition, and the under is 5-0 when Chicago plays a team with a sub .400 winning percentage.

Chicago is averaging 2.3 goals per game on 26.4 shots, which ranks last (32nd) in the NHL. the Blackhawks give up 3.8 goals per game on 33.5 shots, ranking Chicago 29th in the NHL. The Blackhawks’ powerplay is ranked 18th and converting at 21.9 percent. Chicago’s penalty killers are among the worst in the league, ranked 29th and operating at 70.8 percent efficiency. 

Petr Mrazek (2-8-1, 4.23 GAA) and Arvid Soderblom (2-10-2, 3.45 GAA) have swapped the last six starts for Chicago. If the Blackhawks maintain this rotation, we should have seen Soderblom in the net for Chicago on Friday night.

However, Soderblom has been sent to the AHL because of the return of Alex Stalock (3-2-1, 2.93 GAA), who could get the start for Chicago.

Betting Odds and Predictions

As mentioned, the Blue Jackets are the slight favorites, listed at (-124) odds. The Chicago Blackhawks are listed at (+102). 

Our picks: all we want for Christmas is RUN-DMC included in the holiday soundtrack, these winter storms to end, and the Columbus Blue Jackets to win on the moneyline!

We’re taking the Blue Jackets to win at (-124), and we’re also taking the under. Neither team is scoring all that much, and all the betting trends lean toward the under.