Columbus Blue Jackets vs Utah Mammoth Betting Picks

Rick Bowness should draw some Coach of the Year consideration. Bowness was named Columbus's head coach on Jan. 12. The then downtrodden Blue Jackets have rallied under Bowness to win 14 of their last 17 games. The Blue Jackets are now within a point of the Eastern Conference’s final wild card spot after defeating the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, 4-2, at home in their last game two days ago. Not only has Bowness gotten more out of the defense and goalie Elvis Merzlikins, but Columbus is averaging more than four goals per game under his leadership. The Blue Jackets' offense could get even better with recently acquired forward Conor Garland, who has 26 points in 50 games this season. He adds depth to the team’s forward group. Utah is off consecutive road victories against the Flyers and Capitals. The Mammoth have won three straight away games only once this season, and that was back on Oct. 23-26. Take the Blue Jackets.

Columbus closes out its four-game road trip here desperate for a win having gone 0-3 so far on the journey. The Blue Jackets aren't likely to push pace, though, as they are playing without rest following a 4-0 loss to the Avalanche on Saturday. This also is their third game in four days and sixth game in nine days. Utah plays slow and methodical. So the tempo will not be fast-paced. The teams have yet to play each other this season. There were just four goals scored in regulation during both of last season's meetings. It is the Blue Jackets' first visit to the newly renovated Delta Center. The Mammoth remain without standout center Logan Cooley, who is out with a lower-body injury after scoring 14 goals in 29 games. Even though the Mammoth lost to Colorado yesterday, they kept the league’s leading scorer, Nathan MacKinnon, and top-scoring defenseman, Cale Makar, off the board. Take the UNDER.

Utah comes off a 3-2 win over Philadelphia and is 13-10-3 on the road. The defense is seventh in penalty killing, plus 14th in goals allowed and save percentage. Road-weary Columbus has played eight of its last nine away from home. They come off losses at Dallas (5-3) and Buffalo (3-2). The Blue Jackets were without forward Kirill Marchenko (broken jaw), defenseman Zach Werenski, and Dante Fabbro to injuries. The offense is 17th on the power play, while the defense is 26th in penalty killing, 26th in goals surrendered (3.30 per game), and 30th in save percentage (.891). Play Utah.

Columbus is great at home (17-5-3) but 8-14-4 on the road. Defense is the problem, ranked 26th in penalty killing, 31st in save percentage (.891), and 26th in goals allowed (3.29 per game). This is the second of a four-game trip and their sixth road game over the last seven contests. It's also the second of a back-to-back after playing at Vegas last night. Meanwhile, Utah is home working on a day of rest. Utah's defense is eighth in penalty killing, 14th in save percentage (.903), and 16th in goals allowed, while the offense is 13th in the league on the power play. Play Utah.