The Columbus Blue Jackets (21-40-7) head to face the Vegas Golden Knights (42-21-6) at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.Columbus is coming off a high-scoring 7-4 loss against the Ducks on Friday. The Blue Jackets committed only two penalties in the game, holding Anaheim without a power play goal.
Four players found the net for the Blue Jackets. Patrik Laine scored and provided an assist to lead the team in scoring. Michael Hutchinson only had 31 saves on 36 shots against (.861%) in the loss. Vegas fell 7-2 to the Flames on Thursday.
Reilly Smith and Zach Whitecloud each scored once for the Golden Knights. Smith added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Jonathan Quick only had 23 saves on 29 shots against (.793%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Golden Knights won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 3-2 (SO) victory in November. William Karlsson and William Carrier were on the scoresheet for Vegas. Johnny Gaudreau (1G 1A) and Gustav Nyquist (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Columbus. Logan Thompson got the win, saving 26 of 28 shots (.928%).
FACING OFF
Columbus is averaging 2.63 goals per game for the season, 29th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Golden Knights team that is allowing 2.78 goals a game (9th).
Meanwhile, Vegas has found the net 3.19 times a game on average, 16th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score 3.81 goals per game (31st).
The Golden Knights’ 20.23% power play percentage ranks 21st in the league, while the Blue Jackets are 26th with a conversion rate of 18.44%. When it comes to penalty killing, Vegas has the league’s 16th-ranked PK% at 79.39%, while Columbus is 20th at 76.96%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 63 points this season, Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has 17 goals and 46 assists in 66 games. In the net, Joonas Korpisalo (14-11-3) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.05 GAA and a .913% 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%. Chandler Stephenson (53 points), Jack Eichel (51), and Smith (49) lead the Golden Knights in scoring.
Stephenson has 13 goals and 40 assists, while Eichel has 23 goals and 28 assists. Smith has 23 goals and 26 assists. Adin Hill (16-7-1) has the best goals against average for Vegas at 2.49. He has a save percentage of .914%.
Thompson (20-13-3) has played the most games in net for the Golden Knights this season. He has a 2.66 GAA and a .914% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Columbus is 8-20-5 away from Nationwide Arena this season. Vegas is 21-14-1 at T-Mobile Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 (-130)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
