Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets Picks, Predictions: Detroit Continues Quest For Playoff Berth
The Detroit Red Wings look to rebound from a Saturday night loss at home as they head to Ohio to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here are our best Red Wings-Blue Jackets NHL picks based on the top odds.
The Red Wings started the season as one of the hottest teams in the league, but their recent stretch includes just four wins in 11 games. They’ve also dropped three straight, allowing 13 goals while scoring just seven times. To make matters worse, star forward Tyler Bertuzzi just had surgery and will miss at least the next six weeks.
Across the ice, the cannon has been rather silent at Nationwide Arena as the Blue Jackets have struggled to score with regularity. In net, only the San Jose Sharks have a worse five-on-five save percentage, which may not be surprising considering two of the Blue Jackets’ three netminders had hip surgery this past offseason.
Can Columbus overcome the odds and prevail against the high-flying Wings?
Here are our Red Wings-Blue Jackets NHL picks for Sunday (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets Game Info
Date: Sunday, Dec. 4, 6:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
Location: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets Odds
Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets Odds Analysis
The Over/Under total for this matchup opened at 6.5 and remains there. In a game that is likely to feature a pair of abysmal backup goaltenders, bettors have come to a clear consensus as 92% of tickets and nearly 100% of the cash are on the Over.
When it comes to Moneyline odds, Detroit unsurprisingly opened as a -130 favorite, but it has since grown much closer to -113 as this game has turned into a pick’em. Faith in Columbus is at an all-time low, with 79% of the tickets and 81% of the handle backing the Wings to win outright.
Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets Picks
- Moneyline: Red Wings (-105 via DraftKings)
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110 via FanDuel)
- Prop bet: Dylan Larkin Over 1.5 points (+175 via DraftKings)
Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets ML Pick
Red Wings (-105) ★★★★★
Detroit’s recent skid has been far from inspiring, but a funk-breaking game against Columbus just might be the boost it needs. The Blue Jackets’ inability to drive consistent offense will be worse than usual, as well, with several key players on the shelf including wingers Patrik Laine and Jakub Voracek. Defenseman Zach Werenski is also out for the rest of the season, and finding positives in the organization is getting more difficult by the day.
Aside from Bertuzzi, the Wings have been in relatively good health. Numerous offseason additions have hit so far, too, including wingers Dominik Kubalik and David Perron, who both sit top five in team scoring. This win should be a layup for a Detroit team that still needs to prove the legitimacy of its Atlantic Division contention.
Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets O/U Pick
Over 6.5 (-110) ★★★★★
For a pair of fast teams with young cores and shoddy defensive systems, this tilt should be a full-on shootout. The Blue Jackets yield 3.95 goals per game and have also taken nearly 150 fewer shots than they’ve faced. Despite this, Columbus has been shut out only once this season – meaning they’ll likely score at least one goal if not a pair. Detroit is expected to start goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, who has a 2-3-2 record with a 3.97 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage.
The Blue Jackets did not play on Saturday and will likely use the extra rest to start their best option in net, Joonas Korpisalo. Unfortunately, their best option is still far from a great one, evidenced by Korpisalo’s 3.43 goals-against average and .880 save percentage.
Any contribution from Columbus is probably just a bonus, given Detroit’s potential to pile up goals, even on short rest.
Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets Prop Pick
Larkin Over 1.5 points (+175) ★★★★★
Red Wings center Dylan Larkin is the captain and heartbeat of the franchise and looks likely to be a point-per-game player this season after posting nine goals and 26 points through 23 games so far. Inconsistency and defensive woes have perhaps caused Larkin to fly under the radar a bit more than he should.
Still, this opportunity is just too good to pass up. Over 1.5 points seems like a tall order until you remember all of the aforementioned circumstances. Larkin’s usage gives him all the tools to smash this prop, as well.
Detroit’s top line of Kubalik-Larkin-Perron has been firing on all cylinders, with Larkin also receiving exposure to both linemates on the first power-play unit. In last week’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, Larkin’s ice time even eclipsed 25 minutes.
For a talented workhorse with a great matchup, multiple points are certainly on the table, and we're getting great value at these odds.
Where to Bet on Red Wings-Blue Jackets Picks
Red Wings-Blue Jackets picks made 12/4/2022 at 11:19 a.m. ET.
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