Carolina Hurricanes vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Predictions December 15th 2024

Carolina Hurricanes vs Columbus Blue Jackets December 15th 2024

Planning on watching today’s Blue Jackets and Hurricanes game? Catch the action at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC, as the Hurricanes hosts this showdown at 5:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6.5 goals, and the Hurricanes are favored by -1.5 vs. the Blue Jackets.

Columbus vs. Carolina Key Information

• Teams: Blue Jackets at Hurricanes
• Where: Lenovo Center Raleigh
• Date: Sunday, December 15th
• Betting Odds CAR -354 | CBJ +279 O/U 6.5

The Blue Jackets Can Win If…

With a 7-2 loss to the Capitals, the Blue Jackets now sit at 12-13-5. Columbus, the underdog on the puck line, allowed the game’s first goal just 56 seconds into the first period, eventually giving up five goals in the opening frame.

The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 9 goals easily surpassed that mark. Columbus managed to score twice, with Damon Severson and Kevin Labanc each finding the net.

Damon Severson netted his fourth goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his second in the Blue Jackets’ 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only managed two scores. Sean Monahan picked up his fifth assist, with Zach Aston-Reese earning his second and Adam Fantilli his fourth.

The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second. Labanc followed with a goal at the 5:24 mark of the same period. Columbus recorded 13 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Blue Jackets had a rough outing, allowing 7 goals on 22 shots from the Capitals. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves but posted a save percentage of just 68.2%. The defense also recorded 10 takeaways and 17 hits. The Blue Jackets conceded the first five goals of the game, with the first coming just 56 seconds into the first period.

• Across Columbus’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 0-3. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 1-2, in addition to an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Columbus has put together a record of 3-7 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record vs the puck line sits at 4-6 in these matchups, while posting a 7-3 over-under mark.

The Hurricanes Can Win If…

Carolina’s 4-2 win over the Capitals improved their record to 18-10-1. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6 goals, resulting in a push.

The Hurricanes scored first, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the first period. Carolina then scored three unanswered goals to secure the win, including an empty-netter with 9 seconds left in the game.

Carolina took 45 shots on goal in their 4-2 victory over Washington, with Dmitry Orlov scoring twice on his three shots. Orlov now has three goals this season. Martin Necas, who also has six goals this year, added another in the second period and picked up his 12th assist on Orlov’s first goal.

Andrei Svechnikov scored his 6th goal of the season on an empty net with 9 seconds left in the game. The Hurricanes had 14 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play opportunities.

Defensively, the Hurricanes will look to build on their performance in their previous game, where they gave up two goals to Washington. Both goals came late in the first period, with the second coming at the 19:49 mark. Pyotr Kochetkov finished with 19 saves and a 90.5% save percentage, and Carolina’s defense added 7 takeaways and 10 hits.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Hurricanes have gone 1-2 straight up. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 0-3, in addition to an over-under mark of 1-2.
• The Hurricanes have gone 4-6 over their last ten regular season games. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 2-8, in addition to an over-under mark of 6-3-1.

The Lean

If you’re considering a direct moneyline bet, the Hurricanes is the choice to make. However, with a payout of -354, you might want to use this bet as a building block for a parlay.

For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Blue Jackets to cover. Even if the Hurricanes secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Blue Jackets should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Hurricanes Seek Offensive Spark vs. Blue Jackets

The Carolina Hurricanes (16-10-2) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (12-13-4) on Sunday night in Raleigh, N.C., eager to reignite their offense and bounce back from a frustrating stretch. Carolina has lost five of its last seven games, including a 3-0 shutout defeat to the Ottawa Senators on Friday, and star center Sebastian Aho has gone eight games without a goal.

Hurricanes’ Scoring Woes

Aho, Carolina’s leading scorer last season, has been productive with seven assists during his drought but has struggled to find the back of the net.
“I’ve got to be better, no question about it,” Aho said. “Find the ways to create something, especially on the nights you’re not feeling it.”

Carolina captain Jordan Staal echoed the need for the Hurricanes to sustain pressure and generate more chances in the offensive zone:
“We’re a little bit one-and-done and not really getting on our forechecking. We’ve got to create more and more.”

Despite their scoring slump, the Hurricanes have remained defensively sound, limiting opponents to fewer than 25 shots in 15 games this season. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour is focused on maintaining that defensive stability while seeking offensive improvements:
“You don’t want to start opening things up. That’s when you get burned.”

Blue Jackets Look for Consistency

The Blue Jackets come into Sunday’s game on a three-game losing streak, including back-to-back overtime losses. Most recently, Columbus fell 4-3 to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday despite a strong performance from defenseman Zach Werenski, who leads the team in assists (21) and points (31) and is riding a four-game point streak.

Head coach Dean Evason highlighted the importance of recapturing the precision and rhythm that helped the team earlier in the season:
“Remembering this is what is going to allow us to have success.”

Evason might keep Dmitri Voronkov, Adam Fantilli, and Kirill Marchenko on the same line after the trio showed chemistry against Anaheim.

Key Players to Watch

Carolina Hurricanes:

• Sebastian Aho: Needs to break his goal drought to spark Carolina’s struggling offense.
• Jordan Staal: A pivotal two-way presence who can set the tone with physical play and forechecking.
• Frederik Andersen: Expected to start in net; Andersen has been solid at home with an 8-2-0 record.

Columbus Blue Jackets:

• Zach Werenski: The cornerstone of Columbus’ offense, Werenski is vital for creating opportunities from the blue line.
• Adam Fantilli: The rookie continues to grow his game and will look to capitalize on scoring chances.
• Elvis Merzlikins: Likely to start after splitting time recently, Merzlikins must withstand Carolina’s offensive pressure.

Keys to the Game

Carolina Hurricanes:

1. Sustained Offensive Zone Time: Generate second and third chances by maintaining a heavy forecheck.
2. Capitalize on Power Plays: Utilize man-advantage opportunities to break through Columbus’ defense.
3. Stay Defensively Sound: Continue to limit high-danger chances without sacrificing structure.

Columbus Blue Jackets:

1. Transition Play: Use speed through the neutral zone to create odd-man rushes.
2. Strong Goaltending: Merzlikins needs to withstand Carolina’s shot-heavy approach.
3. Win Key Faceoffs: Control possession and deny Carolina momentum-building opportunities.

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Matchup Outlook

This marks the second meeting between these teams this season. Columbus won 5-4 in overtime on Nov. 23, despite Carolina outshooting the Blue Jackets 36-26. The Hurricanes, 11-4-0 at home this season, aim to use their defensive consistency as a foundation to rediscover their offensive groove.

Meanwhile, Columbus is looking to end its losing streak and build on flashes of improved play. With both teams battling recent struggles, Sunday’s matchup promises to be an intense contest.