Both teams will be hoping to end losing runs when the Columbus Blue Jackets (20-38-7) travel to take on the San Jose Sharks (19-36-12) at SAP Center at San Jose on Tuesday. Columbus is kicking off a five-game road trip coming off a 5-2 loss against the Blues on Saturday, their fourth defeat in a row.
The Blue Jackets committed only two penalties in the game, holding St. Louis without a power play goal. Boone Jenner and Patrik Laine both scored once for the Blue Jackets. Johnny Gaudreau had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Michael Hutchinson saved only 19 of 23 shots against (.826%) in the loss.
San Jose lost for the third straight game, falling 5-2 to the Wild on Saturday. Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture each scored once for the Sharks. Couture and Hertl both added an assist to lead the team in scoring. James Reimer only had 24 saves on 28 shots against (.857%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Blue Jackets won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-3 victory in January. Five players had two points for Columbus. Nico Sturm led San Jose with two points (1G 1A). Joonas Korpisalo got the win despite saving only 22 of 25 shots (.880%).
FACING OFF
Columbus is averaging just 2.58 goals per game for the season, 29th in the NHL. The visitors will hope to improve on that figure against a Sharks team that is allowing 3.75 goals a game (30th).
Meanwhile, San Jose has found the net 2.87 times a game on average, 24th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score 3.74 goals per game (29th).
The Blue Jackets’ 18.24% power play percentage ranks 26th in the league, while the Sharks are 27th with a conversion rate of 18.13%. In terms of defending power plays, San Jose has the league’s eighth-ranked PK% at 82.44%, while Columbus is 21st at 76.53%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 57 points this season, Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has 15 goals and 42 assists in 63 games. In the net, Korpisalo (13-11-3) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.09 GAA and a .912% save percentage. Elvis Merzlikins (7-17-2) leads the Blue Jackets in games played in goal.
He has a GAA of 4.10 and a save percentage of .880%.Erik Karlsson leads the Sharks in scoring with 84 points (8th in the league). He has 20 goals and 64 assists (3rd). Reimer (10-16-6) has the best goals against average for San Jose at 3.27. He has a save percentage of .895%.
HOME AND AWAY
Columbus is 7-18-5 away from Nationwide Arena this season. San Jose is looking to avoid a seventh straight home loss this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Columbus Blue Jackets (+120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
