Free NHL Picks Today: Dallas Stars vs Columbus Blue Jackets 2/18/23

The Columbus Blue Jackets (+220), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, are on the road to face the Dallas Stars (-270) and their weak power play offense at American Airlines Center on Saturday. The total is 6 (O: -115, U: -105)Columbus (17-34-4) is coming off a 3-1 win over the Jets on Thursday.

The Blue Jackets committed seven penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Patrik Laine, Boone Jenner, and Kent Johnson scored one apiece for the Blue Jackets. Laine added an assist to lead the team in scoring.

Joonas Korpisalo saved an impressive 37 of 38 shots (.973%) in the win. Dallas (30-14-12) is playing the second of a back-to-back after suffering a 2-1 shootout loss against the Wild yesterday, their third defeat in a row. Jamie Benn was the only player to score in regulation for the Stars. Jake Oettinger saved 31 of 32 shots (.968%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Stars won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 2-1 victory in December. Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson were on the scoresheet for Dallas. Johnson scored Columbus’ only goal. Oettinger got the win, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964%).

FACING OFF

Columbus is averaging just 2.53 goals per game for the season, 30th in the NHL. The visitors will face a tough test against a Stars team that is allowing only 2.52 goals a game (2nd).

Meanwhile, Dallas has found the net 3.25 times a game on average, 13th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score 3.76 goals per game (30th).

The Blue Jackets’ 29th-ranked power play offense (16.33%) will be put to the test against the Stars, who are the league’s third-best penalty killing team (83.61%).

Dallas, meanwhile, has scored on 23.08% of their power play opportunities (11th), which the home team will be looking to add to against Columbus’ 19th-ranked 77.01% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 52 points this season, Johnny Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has 15 goals and 37 assists in 55 games. In the net, Korpisalo (9-10-3) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 3.23 GAA and a .910% save percentage. Robertson leads the Stars in scoring with 71 points (7th in the league). He has 34 goals (5th in the league) and 37 assists in 56 games. Oettinger (23-7-8) has the best goals against average for Dallas at 2.23, fourth-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .925%, third-best.

HOME AND AWAY

Columbus is 5-17-2 on the road this season. Dallas is 15-6-7 at American Airlines Center this season. Meanwhile, the Stars are 2-3 without a day off and 1-3 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Blue Jackets are 2-4 with a rest advantage.