Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes Betting Pick & Prediction 12/15/24

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Blue Jackets and Hurricanes. The game is starting at 5:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 6.5 goals and the Hurricanes are the -1.5 favorite to win at home vs. the Blue Jackets.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS VS CAROLINA HURRICANES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Carolina Hurricanes -1.5

This game will be played at Lenovo Center at 5:00 ET on Sunday, December 15th.

WHY BET THE CAROLINA HURRICANES:

• With a 1.5-goal advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Hurricanes to secure a 4-3 victory.
• Take the Hurricanes on the moneyline
• On the spread, we like Blue Jackets (+1.5)

Will the Blue Jackets Defense Show Up in Raleigh?

Columbus fell to 12-13-5 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 9 goals went over the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

Defensively, Columbus struggled right from the start, allowing 5 goals in the first period. They managed to score twice in the second period, but the Capitals added two more goals to secure the win.

Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only managed two scores in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson netted his fourth goal of the season just 49 seconds into the second period, while Kevin Labanc added his second goal later in the period.

The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first and third periods and recorded 13 giveaways. Sean Monahan picked up his fifth assist of the season on Labanc’s goal, and Zach Aston-Reese notched his second assist.

Columbus allowed the first goal just 56 seconds into the game and gave up four more in the first period, leading to a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves with a 68.2% save percentage. The Blue Jackets’ defense finished with 10 takeaways and 17 hits.

Can Carolina Secure a Home Victory?

The Hurricanes improved to 18-10-1 with a 4-2 win over the Capitals. Carolina, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line. The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined score matched that figure.

Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the first period. The Hurricanes tied it up in the second and took the lead with another goal in the same period. An empty-net goal in the third period sealed the win.

Dmitry Orlov led the way for the Hurricanes with two goals in their 4-2 win over the Capitals. Orlov found the net for the 3rd time this season, while Martin Necas added his 6th goal and picked up two assists, bringing his assist total to 12. Andrei Svechnikov sealed the game with an empty-netter, also his 6th goal of the season.

Carolina fired 45 shots on goal but came up empty on the power play. They scored once in the first period, twice in the second, and added an empty-net goal with just 9 seconds left in the game. The Hurricanes had 14 giveaways in the contest.

Defensively, the Hurricanes will look to build on their performance in their previous game, where they allowed just 2 goals to the Capitals. Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves with a 90.5% save percentage, and Carolina’s defense contributed 7 takeaways and 10 hits. After conceding two late goals in the first period, the Hurricanes’ defense shut out Washington in the second and third periods.