NHL Prediction: Utah vs Columbus Blue Jackets

2025-02-01 03:00
NHL

2025-02-01 03:00:00
NHL

On January 31st, an exciting NHL matchup is set to take place between the Utah team and the Columbus Blue Jackets. The rookies played very poorly in January and won only five games. The Blue Jackets are trying to get back into the playoff zone and are only one win away from their desired goal. The teams have never met each other in history. Both teams are still in the hunt for playoff spots, making every game crucial. Let’s break down the current form of the teams, key players, and strengths to predict who might come out on top.

Utah (USA)

Utah currently holds the 10th spot in the Western Conference with 51 points from 50 games. Despite some struggles, the team continues to fight for a playoff spot. However, their recent form hasn’t been ideal—after a three-game win streak, they lost their last two away games to Winnipeg (2-5) and Ottawa (1-3), and then fell to Pittsburgh (2-3 OT) in their home game.
Key Players:

Clayton Keller, the team’s leader, has 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) and continues to shine as the team’s offensive engine.
Logan Cooley (15+28) and Nick Schmaltz (10+30) are also key contributors who have been solid throughout the season.

Goalies:

Connor Ingram has struggled with his performance, saving only 88.14% of shots, with no shutouts in 18 starts.
Karel Vejmelka, in contrast, has been much more reliable with a 91.19% save percentage, making him a strong contender to start.

Injuries: Sean Durzi and Dylan Guenther will miss the game, and Robert Bortuzzo’s participation is still uncertain.

Columbus Blue Jackets (USA)

Columbus has shown a more stable performance compared to Utah and currently sits 9th in the Eastern Conference with 55 points from 50 games. They had an excellent start to January, winning six straight games, but have since cooled off, losing three of their last five. However, Columbus remains in contention for a playoff spot. They recently earned an unexpected win over Toronto (5-1), but before that, they lost three out of four away games.
Key Players:

Zach Werenski, with 54 points (16 goals, 38 assists), continues to be the driving force in the team’s offense, regularly contributing to key plays.
Kirill Marchenko (20+33) has also been outstanding, especially in the latter part of January, and is another crucial player for the Blue Jackets.

Goalie:

Elvis Merzlikins has found his form again, showing impressive numbers with an 89.44% save rate and even recording a shutout in January. He will be pivotal in keeping the team competitive.

Injuries: Columbus is dealing with injuries to four key players: Yegor Chinakhov, Boone Jenner, Erik Gudbranson, and Sean Monahan. All of them will miss the upcoming game.

What to Expect from the Game? Prediction

Both teams have their strengths. Utah is dangerous offensively, but they struggle with consistency, especially in defense. Their goaltending has been inconsistent, and while they can score, they often fail to close out games.
On the other hand, Columbus is more reliable in terms of defense and goaltending, with Merzlikins showing strong form. Their offensive production, led by Werenski and Marchenko, has been consistent, and they also have a solid power play.

Given the current form of both teams, Columbus appears to be the more stable and well-rounded team, especially in terms of defense and goaltending. If they continue their strong play, an away win seems likely. With Utah’s issues in goal and defense, Columbus should come out on top in this matchup.

Expected Outcome: Columbus 3-2 Utah.

Prediction

Utah struggled significantly in January, with only one brief period of decent play during the first month of the year. The rookies are gradually falling behind in the race for the top eight spots in the Western Conference, though they still remain motivated to continue their fight. On the other hand, Columbus has been performing well this season, although their away games have been less convincing compared to their home form. However, under the guidance of coach Dean Evason, the Blue Jackets managed to secure points in four out of six road games, earning two points each in Missouri and Ontario. At this point, Columbus looks stronger than their opponents and shouldn’t falter in Salt Lake City. Therefore, a bet on the visiting team to win with a zero handicap seems promising.

Bookmakers are offering odds of 1.95 for Utah, 4.60 for a draw, and 3.05 for Columbus. Total over 5.5 goals is offered for 1.70, total under for 2.15.

Our prediction: Columbus win with an Asian handicap (0) at 2.32.

Bet Now!