NHL. Predictions, Picks, and Odds. Weekly Preview 30/01/2024

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues Prediction

Pick: Blues to win
Odds: TBC

The Columbus Blue Jackets will take on the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night in what has a chance to be a lopsided affair.

Columbus has been one of the worst teams in hockey this season and enters this game with the fewest points in the Metropolitan Division and the second-fewest in the entire Eastern Conference.

Things haven’t improved either, recently, currently at 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and they have lost two straight. Their inability to keep the puck out of the back of the net has been a major issue all season, as they’ve given up the most goals in the Eastern Conference and the second most in the NHL.

As for the Blues, they started to figure things out on both sides of the puck throughout their past 10 games. They’ve now won five straight and have done so against impressive opponents. St. Louis has secured wins against the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, Calgary Flames, and other impressive teams throughout this streak.

Their ability to score goals has been what’s changed in recent weeks as they’ve scored at least three goals in all of their past five games and four goals in four of them.

Given this game is going to be played in St. Louis and the Blue Jackets have been one of the worst teams in hockey this season, the Blues are likely to win this game. With the amount of goals that the Blue Jackets have given up this season, look for this scorching-hot Blues team to score goals.

Seattle Kraken vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Tips

Pick: Kraken to win
Odds: -134 (Tonybet)

We could have another lopsided game during this NHL slate as the Seattle Kraken take on the San Jose Sharks. San Jose enters as one of the two worst teams in the NHL this season with 30 points.

That’s tied for the fewest in hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks. However, they’ve played better recently, winning four out of their last 10 games.

Although they’ve played better recently, this is a very good Kraken team that’s going to be better than their record currently indicates. They sit at 21-18-10 with 52 points, good for fifth in the Pacific Division. They haven’t necessarily got it going throughout the season, but that should change shortly.

If the Kraken want to be the team they were expecting to be coming into this season, both sides of the puck need to be better.

Their struggles have been on both ends, as they have just 140 goals and 145 goals against. That’s all average and slightly above average, which is exactly how they’ve played this season.

While concerns are warranted, San Jose’s -93 goal differential leaves little to be desired. Look for the Kraken to play one of their best games of the season and win their second straight.

Ottawa Senators vs. Detroit Red Wings Betting Tip

Pick: Red Wings to win
Odds: +118 (Tonybet)

The Ottawa Senators take on the Detroit Red Wings in an Atlantic Division contest. Ottawa enters play with an 18-25-2 record and 38 points. Their 38 points are the fewest in the Eastern Conference and the fourth-fewest in the NHL.

While the struggles have been clear throughout the season, they do have a -14 goal differential. That’s better than some teams that are in the top four of their Division and could be a sign that things are going to change soon.

However, their inability to keep the puck out of the back of the net has been a concern all season, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change. Ottawa has given up 165 goals, which is the second-most in the Atlantic Division and the fifth-most in the Eastern Conference.

Tim Stützle, who has 45 points and ranks in the top 40 in the league, has led the offence. He needs to continue doing so, as the offence is their only hope.

As for the Detroit Red Wings, they’ve now won seven out of their last 10 games.

They’ve done so against impressive opponents, recently beating the Vegas Golden Knights and Philadelphia Flyers. They beat Vegas by scoring five goals as Dylan Larkin continued to be the best player on the team, posting two points in the win.

Larkin has the 36th most points in the entire NHL and will be a big part of them coming away with an easy win against a struggling Ottawa team.

Disclaimer: Odds are accurate at the time of posting and subject to change. Please verify the latest odds on our platform before betting.

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