The Columbus Blue Jackets (4-9-0), one of the league’s top penalty killing teams, are on the road to take on the New York Islanders (9-6-0) and their weak power play offense at UBS Arena on Saturday.
Columbus is coming off a 5-2 win over the Flyers on Thursday, snapping a five-game losing streak. The Blue Jackets committed only two penalties in the game, holding Philadelphia without a power play goal.
Boone Jenner led the Blue Jackets with two goals. Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and two assists to lead the team in scoring. Joonas Korpisalo saved an impressive 32 of 34 shots (.941%) in the win. New York fell 2-0 to the Coyotes on Thursday. Ilya Sorokin saved 26 of 27 shots (.962%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Islanders won three of the four games between the teams last season, including a 5-2 victory in their final meeting in March, their third straight win against Columbus.
Mathew Barzal led New York with two points (1G 1A). Emil Bemstrom and Justin Danforth were on the scoresheet for Columbus. Semyon Varlamov got the win, saving 30 of 32 shots (.937%).
FACING OFF
Columbus is averaging just 2.69 goals per game for the season, 28th in the NHL. The visitors will face a tough challenge against an Islanders team that is allowing only 2.53 goals a game (5th).
Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.27 times a game on average, 12th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score 4.38 goals per game (31st).
The Blue Jackets’ 32nd-ranked power play offense (6.06%) will be put to the test against the Islanders, who are the league’s third-best penalty killing team (86.00%).
New York, meanwhile, has scored on 17.78% of their power play opportunities (26th), which the hosts will be looking to add to against Columbus’ 16th-ranked 78.95% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 12 points this season, Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has six goals and six assists in 13 games. In the net, Daniil Tarasov (1-3-0) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 3.57 GAA and a .893% save percentage. Elvis Merzlikins (2-5-0) leads the Blue Jackets in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 4.81 and a save percentage of .863%.
Brock Nelson and Barzal lead the Islanders in scoring with 15 points apiece. Nelson has six goals and nine assists, while Barzal has zero goal and 15 assists (3rd).
Anders Lee has eight goals (0th) and six assists. Sorokin (6-3-0) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.20. He has a save percentage of .933%.
HOME AND AWAY
Columbus is 1-4-0 away from home this season. New York is 5-3-0 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Columbus Blue Jackets (+180)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
