The Detroit Red Wings (8-5-4) are on the road to face the Columbus Blue Jackets (6-9-1) at Nationwide Arena on Saturday. Detroit is coming off a high-scoring 7-4 win over the Sharks on Thursday, breaking a run of four straight defeats. The Red Wings committed only one penalty in the game, holding San Jose without a power play goal. Seven players found the net for the Red Wings.
David Perron scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Ville Husso allowed four goals on 25 shots against (.840%) in the win.Columbus beat the Canadiens 6-4 on Thursday. Sean Kuraly scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo surrendered four goals on 42 shots (.904%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Blue Jackets won two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 5-4 (OT) victory in their final meeting in April. Jack Roslovic led Columbus with four points (3G 1A). Jakub Vrana led Detroit with two goals. Elvis Merzlikins got the win despite saving only 34 of 38 shots (.894%).
FACING OFF
Detroit is averaging 3.12 goals per game for the season, 16th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Blue Jackets team that is allowing 4.31 goals a game (32nd). Meanwhile, Columbus has found the net 3.06 times a game on average, 18th in the league, and the Red Wings are allowing opponents to score 3.29 goals per game (19th).
Detroit averages fewer shots (28.5) than most teams in the league, ranking 30th, though the team’s 11.0% shooting percentage is eighth. Columbus has had difficulty stopping shots, ranking No. 31 with a team save percentage of .885%.
The Blue Jackets’ 10.81% power play percentage is the second-worst in the league, while the Red Wings rank 24th with a conversion rate of 18.75%. In terms of penalty killing, Detroit has the league’s 17th-ranked PK% at 78.85%, while Columbus is 19th at 77.78%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Larkin have been the top skaters for the Red Wings this season with 20 and 19 points. In the net, Husso (5-2-3) is Detroit’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.57 GAA and a .918% save percentage.
Johnny Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 14 points. He has six goals and eight assists in 16 games. Merzlikins (2-5-0) is the top goalie for Columbus with a goals against average of 4.74. He has a save percentage of .864%.
HOME AND AWAY
Detroit is 3-3-2 away from Little Caesars Arena this season. Columbus is 5-5-0 at Nationwide Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Columbus Blue Jackets (+110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
