Columbus vs Washington: NHL Match Prediction

Current Form

After a rough start and a loss to Buffalo 1-6, Columbus has regrouped and delivered impressive results in the preseason. The Blue Jackets easily defeated St. Louis with a shutout victory of 3-0. Goaltenders Merzlikins and Savchenko showcased their skills, combining to make 31 saves. Next, the Jackets traveled to Washington and dismantled their opponent with a four-goal margin, winning 8-4. The standout was forward Fantilli, who scored a hat trick.

Upon returning to their home arena, Evason's squad played with a strong lineup, allowing them to secure a confident revenge against the Sabres, winning 6-3. Special recognition goes to forward Monahan, who joined Columbus this year and has already begun to make a significant impact.

Notable Betting Trends

• Columbus averages 4.5 goals per game
• Columbus averages nine minutes of penalty time per game

Current Form

The Capitals have made significant roster changes during the offseason, strengthening their defense and signing Thompson, potentially their goaltender for years to come. However, it’s worth noting that the team has not performed well in the preseason, struggling in nearly all their matches.

Washington suffered a heavy defeat against Philadelphia (2-6) and then faced another loss to Boston (2-4). Their only victory came against New Jersey, where their strong lineup led to a 5-3 win. Strome and Duhaime were the standout performers, each scoring twice. Hopes were high for the Capitals to impress their home crowd, but they suffered another loss to Columbus (4-8). Goaltender Lindgren had a difficult game, managing to stop only 76% of shots faced.

Interesting Betting Trends

• Washington allows an average of 4.25 goals per game
• Washington averages 24 shots on goal per game