Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Nashville Predators January 17 Betting Preview

Fresh off of a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets (13-28-2) travel to Tennessee to play the Nashville Predators (20-17-6). The Predators scored a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday and are now 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

It's expected to be a battle of the backups tonight, as both teams starting goaltenders played on Monday. Daniil Tarasov is 2-8-1 for the Blue Jackets with a 3.40 goals-against average (GAA) and .907 save percentage. Kevin Lankinen is 4-4-1 for the Predators with a 2.81 GAA and .918 save percentage.

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Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview

The Blue Jackets simply can't string together a pair of victories this season, as evidenced by their poor record and second-to-last place in the NHL standings. Columbus is now two points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, which is likely what most fans care about at this point. 

Johnny Gaudreau's first year in Columbus has been a complete waste, but the team could quickly turn things around with the addition of Connor Bedard in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Columbus is 3-7 in its last 10 games and ranks 30th in goals for and against per game. They also have the league's worst power play, with just a 14.8 percent success rate. Columbus has been outscored 32-15 in its last eight games. 

Gaudreau has at least lived up to his end of his contract. He has a team-leading 41 points in 43 games. No other Blue Jackets player has more than 23 points. Columbus is without key players such as Yegor Chinakov, Jakub Voracek, and Zach Werenski. It's unlikely either Voracek or Werenski will return this season.

Nashville Predators Betting Preview

It wasn't long ago that the Predators weren't far off from considering tanking either, but a 6-3-1 stretch in their last 10 games has the team just five points back of the Calgary Flames for the last wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference with two games in hand.

Nashville's 2-1 victory over Calgary ended a three-game losing streak. Before that, the team had won four in a row and gained at least a point in nine of 10 games. The Predators are 27th in goals per game, but rank 14th in goals against in large part due to the play of Juuse Saros, who has a 2.68 GAA and .921 save percentage.

Although Nashville has been historically dominant against the Blue Jackets, Columbus has won the last two meetings between the two teams. The Blue Jackets defeated Nashville 5-3 earlier this season.

Blue Jackets vs. Predators Betting Odds and Prediction

The Predators are -218 moneyline favorites, while the Blue Jackets are paying out +180 on the moneyline. The over/under for the game is 6.5.

Columbus has just three wins on the road all season and likely won't get their fourth tonight at Bridgestone Arena. Expect the Predators to win this one with ease.