Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Colorado Avalanche November 4 Betting Preview

Welcome back to game action, Columbus!

After a one-sided loss to the New Jersey Devils extended their losing streak to three games, the Columbus Blue Jackets could use a few days to refocus and prepare for their next matchup taking place in Finland. 

While there have been a few days in-between CBJ games, the Blue Jackets have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean for a pair of games against the Colorado Avalanche.

With two games in two days, the Columbus Blue Jackets have two chances to get a win before returning to North America and continuing their regular schedule.

CBJ wasn't expected to be a Stanley Cup contender, while the Colorado Avalanche are the defending champions and are expected by many to repeat. Things might not be the brightest for the Jackets right now, but on any given night, any hockey team can score a win, whether home, away, or on another continent.

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Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets enter Thursday's matchup with a 3-7-0 record and have lost four of their last five matchups. The Blue Jackets have averaged 2.60 goals per game and 4.40 goals against.

CBJ's special teams are two very different stories: the penalty kill is operating at 81.3 percent, while Columbus remains the only team not to score a powerplay goal this season.

We're ten games into the season, and the Blue Jackets still haven't scored on the powerplay. So, we've chosen to publicly shame the CBJ powerplay by highlighting the opposition's top powerplay performer. Colorado's Valeri Nichushkin is outscoring the Blue Jackets' powerplay 5-0 this season.

As for goaltending, we don't know who will start Friday's game, but we presume both goalies will start a game in Finland. Elvis Merzlikins has started and lost the last two games moving his record to 2-4-0, with a 4.75 goals-against average and a .864 save percentage. If Daniil Tarasov gets the start, he has a 1-3-0 record, with a 3.57 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage.

Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview

The Colorado Avalanche have had an average start to their season as they find their way missing valuable pieces on offense - including Name Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, and injured captain Gabriel Landeskog; and a new goaltender. 

The Avalanche have a 4-4-1 record to open the season. Colorado is averaging 3.11 goals per game and 3.00 goals against per game. The Avalanche powerplay is something to watch at times, operating at 39 percent, while the penalty kill needs improvement, currently operating at 69.7 percent. In their last matchup before heading to Finland, the Avs lost 5-4 to the New York Islanders, their second loss in a row.

Alexandr Georgiev is the Avs' new starting goalie and has gotten the bulk of the starts for Colorado this season. Georgiev was in net in their last matchup before heading to Finland, where the Avs lost 5-4 to the New York Islanders; their second loss in a row. The loss moved Georgiev's record to 4-1-1, with a 2.81 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.

Much like the Blue Jackets, we're not sure who will get the start in net for Colorado with two games on back-to-back nights. Georgiev split the last two games with Pavel Francouz, so even trying to guess the starters from Colorado's goalie rotation is difficult. If Francouz gets the start tonight, he has a 0-3-0 record with a 3.08 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage.

Blue Jackets vs. Avalanche Odds

As previously mentioned, the Blue Jackets are a heavy moneyline underdog, listed at (+210) odds, while the Colorado Avalanche are the heavy favorite at (-264) odds.

Unless the Blue Jackets pull the upset, CBJ to cover the spread is your favorable CBJ pick for Friday's betting ticket. With the spread set at 1.5 goals, the odds for this game are amongst the craziest we've seen this season. CBJ is listed at +1.5 goals with (-121) odds, while the Avalanche are listed at -1.5 and (+100 odds).

Our Prediction

Columbus Blue Jackets fans, we've got some bad news for you: the Colorado Avalanche will likely win this game. This game will likely hit the over if CBJ can get their offense going.

While we hope for a close, competitive Blue Jackets win, we like to win our bets and are predicting the Colorado Avalanche will win this game and are taking them on the moneyline at (-264).

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