Free NHL Picks Today: New York Islanders vs Columbus Blue Jackets 12/29/22

The Columbus Blue Jackets (10-21-2), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, head to face the New York Islanders (20-14-2) and their weak power play offense at UBS Arena on Thursday. Columbus is coming off a 5-2 loss against the Blackhawks on Friday, their sixth consecutive defeat.

The Blue Jackets committed eight penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Marcus Bjork and Kirill Marchenko both scored once for the Blue Jackets. Bjork added an assist to share the scoring lead with Jack Roslovic, who had two assists.

Daniil Tarasov saved only 16 of 20 shots against (.800%) after starting in the loss. New York beat the Penguins 5-1 on Tuesday. Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee both scored twice for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin saved 20 of 21 shots in the win (.952%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Islanders have won both games between the teams this season, including a 3-2 victory in their most recent meeting in November, their fifth straight win against Columbus.

Barzal led New York with two points (0G 2A). Kent Johnson (1G 1A) and Johnny Gaudreau (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Columbus. Sorokin got the win, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923%).

FACING OFF

Columbus is averaging 2.70 goals per game for the season, 26th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Islanders team that is allowing 2.69 goals a game (7th).

Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.25 times a game on average, 12th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score 4.06 goals per game (31st).

The Blue Jackets’ 28th-ranked power play offense (15.91%) will face a tough test against the Islanders, who are the league’s fifth-best penalty killing team (81.98%).

New York, meanwhile, has scored on 18.35% of their power play opportunities (25th), which the hosts will be aiming to improve on against Columbus’ 18th-ranked 77.88% penalty killing rate.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 34 points this season, Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has 10 goals and 24 assists in 33 games. In the net, Joonas Korpisalo (4-5-1) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.43 GAA and a .905% save percentage.

Elvis Merzlikins (4-8-0) leads the Blue Jackets in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 4.68 and a save percentage of .864%. Brock Nelson and Barzal lead the Islanders in scoring with 36 and 35 points, respectively.

Nelson has 15 goals and 21 assists in 36 games, while Barzal has seven goals and 28 assists (7th) in 36 games. Sorokin (11-11-1) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.37. He has a save percentage of .925%, fifth-best in the league.