Free NHL Picks Today: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Chicago Blackhawks 12/31/22

The Columbus Blue Jackets (10-22-2) will be out to snap their losing streak when they play host to the Chicago Blackhawks (8-22-4) at Nationwide Arena on Saturday. Chicago is coming off a 3-1 loss against the Blues on Thursday, their fifth defeat in a row away from home.

The Blackhawks took advantage of their limited power play opportunities, scoring once on two shots while holding St. Louis without a power play goal. Patrick Kane was the only player to find the net for the Blackhawks.

Alex Stalock saved an impressive 26 of 28 shots (.928%) in the loss. Columbus dropped their seventh in a row, falling 2-1 to the Islanders on Thursday. Emil Bemstrom was the only player to score for the Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo saved 34 of 36 shots (.944%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Blackhawks won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-2 victory on December 23. Kane and Jonathan Toews each had three points (1G 2A) to lead Chicago. Marcus Bjork (1G 1A) and Jack Roslovic (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Columbus. Stalock got the win, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931%).

FACING OFF

Chicago is averaging just 2.24 goals per game for the season, worst in the NHL. The visitors will look to take advantage of a Blue Jackets team that is allowing 4.00 goals a game (31st).

Meanwhile, Columbus has found the net 2.65 times a game on average, 27th in the league, and the Blackhawks are allowing opponents to score 3.71 goals per game (29th).

Both teams average fewer shots a game than most teams in the league. Columbus’ 29.2 average ranks 28th, while Chicago ranks No. 31 with 26.5 attempts. The Blue Jackets have struggled to stop shots with a team save percentage of only .893% (28th), while the Blackhawks have stopped .895% of attempts (27th).

The Blue Jackets’ 15.56% power play percentage is the fourth-worst in the league, while the Blackhawks rank 17th with a conversion rate of 21.50%. In terms of penalty killing, Columbus has the league’s 17th-ranked PK% at 77.57%, while Chicago is 27th at 72.64%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Kane and Max Domi have been the top skaters for the Blackhawks this season with 26 and 24 points. In the net, Arvid Soderblom (2-10-2) is Chicago’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.45 GAA and a .894% save percentage.

Johnny Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 35 points. He has 10 goals and 25 assists. Korpisalo (4-5-1) has the best goals against average for Columbus at 3.43. He has a save percentage of .905%.