Winnipeg Jets @ Columbus Blue Jackets Game Preview and Prop Pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been listed as an underdog in every game since January 19th, and tonight is no different as they play host to the Winnipeg Jets. We’ll preview the game before going over my best prop play for the action.

Game Preview

Tonight will be the Jets' first road game since the All-Star break, and they will enter the game amid a three-game win streak. Winnipeg picked up a shootout win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night and has only allowed three goals to be scored in the two games since the break.

On the season, the Jets rank 3rd in the league in goals against per game with an average of just 2.6 a game. Connor Hellebuyck has been one of the top-ranked goalies in the NHL this season with 25 wins and a .925 save percentage over his past ten games, and he will likely be back in net tonight after sitting against the Kraken.

In the first half of the season, the Jets put up average offensive numbers, as entering tonight, they rank 16th in the league in goals per game. Tonight is a prime opportunity for them to improve their offensive numbers as they face a Blue Jackets team that has let up three or more goals in every game since January 17th.

Columbus is ranked 30th in the goals allowed per game this season, and both goalies they’ve played have struggled to gain any momentum. Joonas Korpisalo has played in 24 games this year and has a goals-against average of 3.33, and in the 23 games that Elvis Merzlikins has played, he has a GAA of 4.28.

The Blue Jackets' scoring numbers have not been much better this season, as they’ll come into tonight ranked 30th in goals and 28th in shots per game. Columbus managed a four-goal game in their win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday but could not carry over their success into Tuesday, dropping a game to the Devils with a final score of 3-2.

Prop Pick for the Game

For my prop play in this one, I’ll be targeting Josh Morrissey over 2.5 shots on goal at (-138). The Jets' defensemen has had a big spike in shots over the past ten games, as he is averaging 3.2 a game in that span while going over his total in five of his last six games.

Tonight is an excellent spot to target Morrissey primarily because the Blue Jackets have allowed the most shots to defensemen this season, and on the year, they rank 31st in the league in shots against per game. In their most recent loss to the Devils, the Blue Jackets allowed defensemen Dougie Hamilton to get off six shots on goal in the game, and in the game prior, Maple Leafs’ defensemen Morgan Reilly also had six shots.

Joonas Korpisalo will likely be in net for the Blue Jackets tonight, and over his past ten games, he has allowed an average of 36.3 shots and 3.4 goals per game. Winnipeg had 38 shots in regulation on Tuesday night, and I expect them to come out aggressive tonight, especially Morrissey.

Recap

• Josh Morrissey Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-138)