Columbus Blue Jackets vs Florida 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. 

Florida has won the past six meetings and the Panthers come into this game riding a four-game heater after ending Tampa Bay's eight-game win streak with a 2-1 victory on Monday. The Panthers have allowed only 10 goals in seven games and they have won eight of nine home contests. Florida is 52-11 at home against teams with road winning percentages of less than .400. They have gone UNDER four of five and Columbus has stayed UNDER six of seven after scoring two or fewer goals its previous game. Sergei Bobrovsky is confirmed for this game and he is 26-13-2 with a 2.68 goals-against average with three shutouts. Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins has a 3.02 GAA. Florida has won nine of 10 home games against the Blue Jackets. Take the Panthers and the UNDER.

Florida is 7-4-2 on the road this season. They're on a 5-2 run netting 22 goals with an offense that is fourth in the NHL in shots on goal, and a defense that is fourth in goals allowed (2.54 per game) and seventh in save percentage (.914). Last place Columbus is getting outscored by 16 goals, the second-worst differential in the Eastern Conference. The offense is 22nd in goals scored and 19th in shooting percentage, with a defense that is 28th in goals given up (3.45 per game) and 15th in save percentage (.906). Columbus has lost three of four surrendering 16 goals and is 5-25 after scoring 4 or more goals in its last game. Florida has won three in a row versus Columbus by a 16-4 count, so back the visitors. Play Florida.