Hurricanes vs Blue Jackets Prediction NHL Picks 2/29/24

The Carolina Hurricanes will play the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Carolina has lost two of their last three games, while Columbus has alternated wins and losses over their last seven games. Let’s take a look at the betting matchup and the Hurricanes vs Blue Jackets prediction.

Hurricanes Preview

The Carolina Hurricanes are 35-18-6 this year after they defeated the Wild by a score of 3-2 in their last game. Carolina trailed 2-1 after the first period, but they scored the last two goals in the game for the win. Carolina was out shot by a total of 30-28 and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. The Hurricanes lost to Buffalo by a score of 3-2 and Dallas by a score of 2-1 in the two games prior to Minnesota. Carolina is scoring 3.27 goals per game and they are allowing 2.73 goals against per game, while going 27.2% on the power play and 84.6% on the penalty kill. Sebastian Aho has led Carolina with 22 goals, 39 assists, and 158 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Carolina is Pyotr Kochetkov, who is 16-10-3 this season with a 2.35 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. 

Blue Jackets Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets are 19-29-10 this season after they lost to the Rangers by a score of 4-1 in their last game. Columbus cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third period, but they allowed two empty net goals at the end in the loss. The Blue Jackets out shot New York by a total of 31-30 and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. Columbus did defeat the Rangers by a score of 4-2 in the game prior, but lost to Buffalo before that. The Blue Jackets are scoring 2.95 goals per game and they are allowing 3.67 goals against per game, while going 14.6% on the power play and 76.6% on the penalty kill. Johnny Gaudreau has led Columbus with eight goals, 34 assists, and 114 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Columbus is Daniil Tarasov, who is 4-7-2 this year with a 3.66 goals against average and a .887 save percentage. 

Columbus Blue Jackets Team Facts

• The Blue Jackets have won three of their last four games as home underdogs on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in four of their last five games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in five of the Blue Jackets’ last six games following a road loss.
• The Blue Jackets have won the third period in each of their last five games following a road loss.

Carolina Hurricanes Team Facts

• The Hurricanes have won each of their last five night games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Hurricanes’ last four games.
• The favorites have won the second period in eight of the Hurricanes’ last nine games at Nationwide Arena.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in seven of the Hurricanes’ last eight games at Nationwide Arena.

Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts

• Dmitri Voronkov has scored the first goal in three of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Yegor Chinakhov has scored at least one goal in four of the Blue Jackets’ last five games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• Yegor Chinakhov has recorded a point in each of his last seven appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents at Nationwide Arena.
• Johnny Gaudreau has recorded at least one assist in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents at Nationwide Arena.
• Boone Jenner has the most multi-goal games for the Blue Jackets this season (3).

Carolina Hurricanes Player Prop Facts

• Brady Skjei has scored a goal in three of the Hurricanes’ last four games as favorites against the Blue Jackets.
• Seth Jarvis has recorded at least one point in each of the Hurricanes’ last four games as favorites against the Blue Jackets.
• Andrei Svechnikov has recorded at least one assist in four of the Hurricanes’ last five games at Nationwide Arena.
• Jaccob Slavin has the most Shorthanded Goals for the Hurricanes this season (2).

Matchup/League Facts

• The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 25th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (76.47%).
• The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 32nd in the league for Period 3 goals allowed per game this season (1.47).
• The Carolina Hurricanes rank 7th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.73).
• The Carolina Hurricanes rank 1st in the league for shots against per game this season (25.5).

Hurricanes vs Blue Jackets Betting Prediction

Columbus comes into this matchup as the worst team in the Metropolitan Division and they will be on a back to back, after playing against the Rangers on Wednesday. The Blue Jackets have picked up a few wins recently, including a win over the Rangers on February 25th, but they are only 10-15-4 at home. Carolina has dropped two of their last three games, but they are 16-11-2 on the road and are in second in the Metro. Carolina is the much better team in this matchup, especially on defense, and I think this is a very tough spot for the Blue Jackets on a back to back. Take Carolina -1.5 here. 

David Racey's Pick: Hurricanes -1.5