Columbus Blue Jackets vs Utah Hockey Club Betting Pick & Prediction 1/31/25
Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Blue Jackets and Hockey Club. The game is starting at 9:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Hockey Club at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this non-conference game currently have the Hockey Club as the -1.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS VS UTAH HOCKEY CLUB BETTING PICK
The Pick: Utah Hockey Club -1.5
This game will be played at Delta Center at 9:00 ET on Friday, January 31st.
WHY BET THE UTAH HOCKEY CLUB:
- Even though they are considered 1.5-goal underdogs, our projection points to a 3-2 win for the Blue Jackets.
- We like the Blue Jackets on the moneyline (+158)
- The Blue Jackets are also our pick on the spread at +1.5
Will the Blue Jackets Win in Salt Lake City?
Columbus fell to 25-19-7 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets’ defense struggled from the start, allowing a goal just 56 seconds into the game and giving up five goals in the first period.
The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for 9, going over the line. Columbus, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover. They didn’t score until the second period, when Damon Severson found the net at 19:11.
Columbus took 36 shots on goal but only managed to find the net twice in their 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Damon Severson scored his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second period.
Columbus recorded 13 giveaways and failed to score on the power play. Sean Monahan picked up his 5th assist of the season, and Zach Aston-Reese added his 2nd. Adam Fantilli also contributed with his 4th assist.
Columbus’ defense struggled early, allowing five goals in the first period and another two later in the game. Daniil Tarasov finished with 15 saves and a 68.2% save percentage. The Blue Jackets’ defense also recorded 10 takeaways and 17 hits.
Can Utah Lock in a Home Win?
Utah fell below .500 with a 4-3 loss to the Golden Knights, bringing their record to 21-22-8. The game’s total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5, and Utah, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover.
Utah led 2-0 before Vegas scored four unanswered goals. Logan Cooley opened the scoring at 11:52 in the first period, and Ian Cole added another goal at 12:00 in the second. However, the Golden Knights tied it up in the second and took the lead in the third. Utah managed to tie it again, but Vegas sealed the win with a goal at 2:15 in overtime.
Utah Hockey Club registered 13 giveaways in their 4-3 loss to the Golden Knights. They managed 19 shots on goal, with three different players finding the net. Logan Cooley opened the scoring with his second goal of the season, while Ian Cole added his first. Alexander Kerfoot scored his second goal, which tied the game 3-3 in the third period.
Nick Bjugstad contributed with two assists, bringing his season total to two. Cooley also picked up his eighth assist on Cole’s goal. The team’s first goal came at 8:08 in the first period, followed by another at the 8:00 mark in the second period.
Utah’s defense gave up the first goal at the 4:54 mark of the 2nd period, and allowed three more after that, including the game-winner in overtime. Connor Ingram finished with 31 saves and a save percentage of 88.6%.