Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes December 31st 2024

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Hurricanes versus the Blue Jackets? The puck drops at 8:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. The Hurricanes are favored by -1.5 in this Metropolitan division showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 6.5 goals.

Carolina vs. Columbus Key Information

• Teams: Hurricanes at Blue Jackets
• Where: Nationwide Arena Columbus
• Date: Tuesday, December 31st
• Betting Odds CAR -223 | CBJ +186 O/U 6.5

The Hurricanes Can Win If…

Carolina improved to 22-13-1 with a 4-2 win over the Capitals. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals was right on the pre-game line.

The Hurricanes scored first, but then allowed two goals in the first period. They responded with three unanswered goals to secure the win, including an empty-netter in the final seconds.

Dmitry Orlov led the way for the Hurricanes with two goals, bringing his season total to three. Martin Necas added his sixth goal of the season and also picked up two assists, giving him 12 assists on the year. Andrei Svechnikov closed out the scoring with his sixth goal, an empty-netter with just nine seconds left in the game.

Carolina fired 45 shots on goal but came up empty on the power play. They scored once in the first period, added two more in the second, and finished with a final goal in the third.

Carolina’s defense gave up two late goals in the first period, but they tightened up after that, not allowing another goal. Pyotr Kochetkov finished with 19 saves and a 90.5% save percentage. The Hurricanes’ defense also recorded 7 takeaways, 10 hits, and 11 blocks.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Carolina has a record of 1-2. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 1-2 and an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Hurricanes have gone 5-5 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 4-6, while posting an over-under record of 4-6.

The Blue Jackets Can Win If…

The Blue Jackets dropped to 15-16-6 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Columbus was an underdog on the puck line, and the total of 9 goals went over the 6.5 line.

Columbus allowed 5 goals in the first period, with the Capitals scoring just 56 seconds into the game. Damon Severson and Kevin Labanc each scored for the Blue Jackets.

Columbus managed 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Damon Severson scored his fourth goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his second. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second.

Columbus recorded 13 giveaways and didn’t convert on any power play opportunities. Adam Fantilli picked up his fourth assist on Severson’s goal, and Sean Monahan earned his fifth assist on Labanc’s second-period goal.

Columbus struggled defensively in their last game, giving up 7 goals on 22 shots from Washington. Goalie Daniil Tarasov finished with 15 saves and a 68.2% save percentage. The Blue Jackets’ defense also recorded 17 hits and 10 takeaways. They gave up the first 5 goals of the game, with the first coming just 56 seconds into the first period. After closing the gap to 6-2, they allowed another goal at 1:26 in the 3rd period.

• Spanning across their last three games, Columbus have gone 2-1. Their record vs the puck line in these matchups is less impressive at 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 2-1.
• Across Columbus’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 3-7. Their record vs the puck line sits at 4-6 in these matchups, while posting a 6-4 over-under mark.

From the Pros: NHL Picks That Deliver Results ✅ Click Here!

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Blue Jackets to pick up on a win over the Hurricanes at home. With the moneyline sitting at +186, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Blue Jackets straight-up.

Our projections have the Blue Jackets pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Blue Jackets, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Hurricanes and Blue Jackets Set to Face Off in a Metro Division Showdown

The Carolina Hurricanes are hitting the road Tuesday night to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, and both teams have something to prove. Carolina is looking for consistency as they chase another win, while Columbus is hoping to bounce back from a tough loss to Boston.

Hurricanes Are Staying the Course

Carolina (20-14-2) is coming off a big win against the New Jersey Devils, where they exploded for four third-period goals to secure a 5-2 victory. For head coach Rod Brind’Amour, the key to success has been sticking to their game plan:

The Hurricanes’ offense has been led by Martin Necas, who’s been on fire this season with 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists). Jack Roslovic has also stepped up, leading the team with 16 goals, including two in their win over New Jersey.

On the downside, Carolina will be missing defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who’s out with an upper-body injury. Goaltender Dustin Tokarski, who stopped 21 shots against the Devils, is expected to get the nod again. He’s been solid in limited action, with a 2.35 GAA and a .907 save percentage.

Blue Jackets Need to Bounce Back

Columbus (15-19-4) had their four-game point streak snapped on Saturday in a 4-0 shutout loss to the Boston Bruins. While the scoreboard looked bad, forward Mathieu Olivier said the game wasn’t all doom and gloom.

The Blue Jackets’ standout this season has been Kirill Marchenko, who leads the team with 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists). His seven-game point streak was snapped against Boston, but he’s still been a consistent force on offense.

In net, Columbus will likely turn to Elvis Merzlikins. He’s had an up-and-down season with an 11-9-3 record and a .890 save percentage, but he’s been solid historically against Carolina, with a .914 save percentage in nine career matchups.

Head-to-Head History

This will be the third time these two teams meet this season. Columbus came out on top in a 5-4 shootout win on Nov. 23, but Carolina evened the score with a 4-1 victory on Dec. 15.

Carolina’s Sebastian Aho has been a key player in these matchups, with two goals and an assist so far. On the Columbus side, Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov have combined for four goals and two assists in their games against the Hurricanes.

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What to Watch For

For the Hurricanes

• Keep the Momentum Going: Carolina’s offense has been clicking, but they’ll need players like Necas and Roslovic to keep delivering.
• Stay Disciplined: Brind’Amour’s focus on sticking to the game plan has been paying off.

For the Blue Jackets

• Marchenko’s Magic: He’s been their most reliable scorer—can he get back on the scoresheet?
• Merzlikins’ Performance: Columbus needs their goalie to step up and keep Carolina’s firepower at bay.

Why This Game Matters

For the Hurricanes, it’s about solidifying their spot in the Metro Division and keeping their momentum going. For the Blue Jackets, it’s a chance to bounce back and build some confidence at home.

With talented players and division rivals facing off, this game has all the makings of an exciting battle.

Don’t miss it—Carolina and Columbus are ready to bring the energy in this Metro Division clash!