Columbus Blue Jackets vs St. Louis Blues Picks and Predictions January 4th 2025

Columbus Blue Jackets vs St. Louis Blues January 4th 2025

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Blues and Blue Jackets. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this non-conference game currently have the Blue Jackets as the -1.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals.

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St. Louis vs. Columbus Key Information

• Teams: Blues at Blue Jackets
• Where: Nationwide Arena Columbus
• Date: Saturday, January 4th
• Betting Odds CBJ -131 | STL +109 O/U 6.5

The Blues Can Win If…

With a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs, the Blues moved to 19-17-4 on the season. St. Louis covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total line of 6 goals was a push.

After trailing 1-0 in the first period, the Blues responded with four straight goals. Three different players scored for St. Louis, with Colton Parayko leading the way with two goals.

Colton Parayko led the way for the Blues in their 4-2 win over Toronto, scoring twice on his two shots on goal. He now has three goals on the season, adding his fifth assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s empty-netter, which was Buchnevich’s fourth goal of the year. Jordan Kyrou also found the net for the third time this season.

After a scoreless first period, the Blues got on the board with Parayko’s second goal of the season, followed by Kyrou’s unassisted goal. Parayko struck again in the second period, marking his third goal of the year. Ryan Suter picked up two assists, bringing his total to three for the season.

Defensively, the Blues gave up the first goal at 5:25 into the first period and another late in the third, but they didn’t allow any in the second. Jordan Binnington made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage. The Blues’ defense also recorded 3 takeaways and 17 hits.

• St. Louis will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. Their strong play has also resulted in an puck line mark of 2-1 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 2-1 in those same games.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, St. Louis has a record of 5-5. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 7-3 to go along with an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Blue Jackets Can Win If…

Columbus dropped to 16-17-6 after a 7-2 road loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 9 goals went over the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

Defensively, Columbus struggled from the start, allowing five goals in the first period. Damon Severson and Kevin Labanc each scored for the Blue Jackets, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their early deficit.

Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Damon Severson scored his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second period.

Columbus had 13 giveaways and didn’t capitalize on any power play opportunities. Sean Monahan recorded his 5th assist of the season on Labanc’s goal, and Zach Aston-Reese picked up his 2nd assist of the year.

Columbus’ defense struggled early, conceding five goals in the first period, including the opener just 56 seconds in. They allowed two more goals later in the game, leading to a 7-2 loss. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves with a 68.2% save percentage.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Columbus has a record of 1-2. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• The Blue Jackets have gone 4-6 over their last ten regular season games. Their record vs the puck line sits at 4-6 in these matchups, while posting a 7-3 over-under mark.

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Blue Jackets to pick up on a win over the Blues at home. With the moneyline sitting at -131, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Blue Jackets straight-up.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Blues to cover. Even in the event of a Blue Jackets victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Blues should cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

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Blue Jackets Look to Bounce Back Against Blues in Key Matchup

The Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues, both recovering from tough stretches in December, aim to build momentum when they face off on Saturday night in Columbus. Both teams are working to stabilize their seasons and improve their playoff prospects.

Blue Jackets: Rebounding After a Tough Loss

Columbus has shown resilience lately, posting a 4-2-1 record in their last seven games after enduring a challenging 1-6-2 stretch earlier in December. However, Thursday’s heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings highlighted areas needing improvement.

With just 36 seconds left in regulation, Detroit’s Jonatan Berggren scored the game-winning goal, leaving the Blue Jackets frustrated.

“I’d love to be sitting here with at least a point and have the opportunity [to win],” coach Dean Evason said. “It’s clock awareness. It’s recognizing where we are in the game. … We’ll learn from it, and we’ll go forward.”

Defenseman Zach Werenski continues to shine, registering a goal and two assists in the Detroit game. Werenski, who has a 14-game home point streak, remains a key asset for Columbus heading into Saturday’s game.

Winger James van Riemsdyk stressed the importance of staying focused, saying, “We have another game [on Saturday]. We have to be ready to play. We’re right in the thick of a race to try and make the playoffs. We don’t have time to sulk and feel sorry for ourselves.”

Blues: Momentum on Their Side

The St. Louis Blues have found their groove after a 1-3-2 slump earlier in December. They’ve now won four of their last five games, including a dominant 4-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Friday.

Goaltender Jordan Binnington was outstanding against Ottawa, earning his 18th career shutout, while Brandon Saad broke a 19-game scoring drought with a hat trick.

“We’re playing harder,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “We’re still making a bunch of plays. But when we don’t have time and space to make a play, we’re predictable to each other, and it’s allowing us to gain more O-Zone time and more scoring.”

The Blues’ defensive structure was also evident as they limited Ottawa to just 20 shots on goal.

Forward Oskar Sundqvist (illness) and defenseman Justin Faulk (upper body injury) missed the Ottawa game and remain questionable for Saturday. If unavailable, players like Mathieu Joseph and Scott Perunovich will need to step up once again.

Goaltending Duel: Hofer vs. Blue Jackets Attack

With Binnington starting Friday, Joel Hofer is likely to get the nod against Columbus. Hofer was stellar in December, going 4-0-0 with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

On the other side, the Blue Jackets will need to test Hofer early and often to disrupt his rhythm. Capitalizing on scoring opportunities will be crucial for Columbus, especially if their defense falters late in the game as it did against Detroit.

What’s at Stake?

Both teams are fighting for playoff relevancy, and every point counts at this stage of the season. The Blue Jackets, looking to rebound at home, need to shore up their defensive lapses and maintain composure in high-pressure situations. Meanwhile, the Blues will aim to extend their recent success by continuing to play with the structure and discipline that have defined their resurgence.

Key Players to Watch

• Zach Werenski (Columbus): His offensive production and ability to drive play from the back end are critical for the Blue Jackets.
• Brandon Saad (St. Louis): With newfound confidence after a hat trick, Saad could be a game-changer against Columbus.
• Joel Hofer (St. Louis): If he starts, Hofer’s form will be vital in keeping the Blue Jackets’ attack at bay.

Final Thoughts

This matchup offers a chance for both teams to build momentum and solidify their playoff aspirations. For Columbus, the focus will be on closing out games effectively, while St. Louis will look to maintain their structural discipline and strong goaltending. Expect a competitive, hard-fought battle between two teams hungry for points.