Free NHL Picks Today: Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Islanders 3/24/23

Free NHL Picks Today: Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Islanders 3/24/23
Fri 24th March 2023

The New York Islanders (37-27-8) will be looking to add to their winning streak when they head to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets (22-41-7) at Nationwide Arena on Friday.

New York is coming off a high-scoring 7-2 win over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, their third consecutive win. The Islanders committed only two penalties in the game, holding Toronto without a power play goal. Cal Clutterbuck led the Islanders with two goals.

Ilya Sorokin had a great performance with 25 saves (.925%) in the win. Columbus beat the Capitals 7-6 (OT) on Tuesday. Adam Boqvist and Jack Roslovic both scored twice for the Blue Jackets. Daniil Tarasov only stopped 31 of 37 shots (.837%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Islanders have won all three games between the teams this season, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting in December, their sixth straight win against Columbus.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau led New York with two points (1G 1A). Emil Bemstrom scored Columbus’ only goal. Sorokin got the win, saving 20 of 21 shots (.952%).

FACING OFF

New York is averaging 2.99 goals per game for the season, 22nd in the NHL, and they are taking on a Blue Jackets team that is allowing 3.89 goals a game (31st).

Meanwhile, Columbus has found the net 2.69 times a game on average, 29th in the league, and won’t find goals any easier to come by against the Islanders’ stout defense, which is holding opponents to 2.68 goals per game (5th).

The Islanders’ 15.84% power play percentage is the third-lowest in the league, while the Blue Jackets rank 25th with a conversion rate of 18.68%. In terms of penalty killing, New York has the league’s eighth-ranked PK% at 82.27%, while Columbus is 23rd at 76.33%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 65 points this season, Brock Nelson is the top skater for the Islanders. He has 30 goals and 35 assists in 72 games. In the net, Sorokin (26-19-6) is New York’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.36 GAA, fifth-best in the league, and a .924% save percentage, third-best.

Johnny Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 65 points. He has 17 goals and 48 assists in 68 games. Joonas Korpisalo (14-11-4) has the best goals against average for Columbus at 3.01. He has a save percentage of .912%.

Elvis Merzlikins (7-17-2) has played the most games in net for the Blue Jackets this season. He has a 4.10 GAA and a .880% save percentage.

HOME AND AWAY

New York is 16-15-5 away from UBS Arena this season. Columbus is 13-20-2 at Nationwide Arena this season.

SportsTips’ NHL Pick:

Columbus Blue Jackets (+190)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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