Colorado Avalanche vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction 4/3/25

The Avalanche and Blue Jackets are set to face off at 7:30 ET on ESPN+. The Blue Jackets will host the game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. The Avalanche are favored by -1.5 goals in this non-conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 6.5 goals.

COLORADO AVALANCHE VS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5

This game will be played at Nationwide Arena at 7:30 ET on Thursday, April 3rd.

WHY BET THE COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS:

• Even though they are 1.5 goal underdogs, we see the Blue Jackets winning this game by a score of 4-2.
• We like the Blue Jackets on the moneyline (+125)
• The Blue Jackets are also our pick on the spread at +1.5

Can the Avalanche Offense Score Enough on the Road?

With a 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche dropped to 46-27-4 this season. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 7 goals went over that line. Colorado was the underdog on the puck line, and failed to cover.

The Avalanche took the lead early in the second period, but Nashville responded with five unanswered goals. Two of those came in the third period, including a pair of empty-netters.

In their 5-2 loss to Nashville, Colorado took 30 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Cale Makar opened the scoring with his 5th goal of the season, coming on a power play in the second period. Nathan MacKinnon added his 6th goal late in the third.

Makar also picked up his 16th assist on MacKinnon’s goal, while MacKinnon earned his 14th assist on Makar’s power-play goal. The Avalanche had 23 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Avalanche struggled late, giving up two goals in the final 1:14 of the third period. Justus Annunen made 21 saves with an 87.5% save percentage. The defense also recorded 11 takeaways and 26 hits.

Will the Blue Jackets Defense Show Up at Home?

Columbus fell to 34-30-9 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets’ defense struggled from the start, allowing five goals in the first period.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for 9. Columbus, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover.

Columbus took 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Damon Severson opened the scoring for the Blue Jackets, netting his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd goal.

Columbus was held scoreless in the first period before Severson’s goal 49 seconds into the second. Labanc followed with a goal at the 5:24 mark of the second period. The Blue Jackets recorded 13 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Blue Jackets had a rough outing, giving up the first five goals of the game and allowing the Capitals to score just 56 seconds into the first period. They also gave up the final two goals, with the last one coming at the 1:26 mark of the 3rd period. Daniil Tarasov finished with 15 saves and a 68.2% save percentage.