Columbus Blue Jackets vs Florida Panthers Betting Picks

Jacob Markstrom stopped nine of 11 shots in Buffalo on Monday, then stayed on the bench for the second period. Akira Schmid relieved him and allowed three goals on 21 shots in a 5-3 Florida loss. Schmid has now given up seven goals in the four periods he has played this season. The Panthers are back on the ice tonight with no rest and no Aleksander Barkov or Brad Marchand, both on injured reserve, and they have won two of their five games. Columbus has not played since Saturday, when it lost 5-3 at St. Louis, and its power play has scored on 20% of its chances. The Blue Jackets lost nine straight to Florida before winning 4-2 on March 5, and a run that old carries less weight with me than tonight’s rest edge. The puckline pays plus money, and Columbus has to win by two or more a little less than 31% of the time for the ticket to profit. A rested home team facing a tired, short-handed visitor with that goaltending question clears that bar. I’m laying the puckline with Columbus.

Being 10 points out of a playoff spot, the Panthers can't wait any longer to make a move if they have any hope of winning the Stanley Cup for the third consecutive season. Now, Florida draws Columbus, which is 12-2-1 since the hiring of Rick Bowness. The Blue Jackets have been living dangerously, though, winning each of their last two games by one goal. They blew a four-goal lead against the Rangers and had to win an overtime this past Monday, and then needed a third-period comeback to nip Nashville, 3-2, two days ago. Columbus had lost its previous two games. The Panthers have dominated the Blue Jackets, winning the past nine times against them. Florida has big-time scorers with Sam Reinhart, who is on pace for a fifth straight 30-goal season with a team-best 28 goals, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett. The Blue Jackets could be short-handed. Star defenseman and Norris Trophy candidate Zach Werenski has missed the past two games with illness, and captain Boone Jenner missed the last game as well. Werenski is the only NHL defenseman with at least 20 goals and 60 points on the season. Take the Panthers.

Defending champion Florida is 22-10-2 at home but far less dominant on the road where they're 19-14-1. This is their fifth consecutive road contest, looking road-weary late in the season on a 1-3 slide. The Panthers were a -210 favorite at Boston but lost 3-2, were a -210 favorite again at Montreal but lost 3-1, and come off a 4-2 loss at the Islanders as -155 chalk. Columbus is 20-9-4 at home and plays its fourth straight on home ice. The offense is eighth in shooting percentage and in goals scored (3.24 per game). Play Columbus.