NHL betting preview (Nov. 5): Blue Jackets vs. Sharks odds

Nov 06, 2024

Macklin Celebrini will return to the lineup Tuesday as the last-place Sharks host the Columbus Blue Jackets in San Jose. This will be his first game since scoring a goal and an assist in the season opener.

All odds via Sports Interaction.

Columbus (5-5-1) has dropped its last two games by a combined score of 13-4 after starting the season 5-4. The Blue Jackets are currently tied with the Penguins for fifth in the Metropolitan Division, holding two games in hand on Pittsburgh. San Jose, meanwhile, has won three of its last four games after an 0-9 start. The Sharks (3-8-2) are in the midst of five consecutive home games. Columbus won both matchups against San Jose last season and holds a 5-1 record against them since the start of 2021-22.

The Blue Jackets started their five-game road trip with a 7-2 loss in Washington after a 6-2 home defeat to the Jets, marking their third straight game scoring no more than two goals. Previously, Columbus had scored three or more goals in six of eight games, ranking fifth in goals per 60 minutes. Despite this, Columbus remains one of the league’s worst defensive teams, which has contributed to their 8-3 record hitting the over this season.

San Jose ranks among the bottom five offensively but has scored three-plus goals in four of its last five games, after managing that only twice in its first nine. Notably, their offensive struggles have coincided with Celebrini’s injury. With Celebrini expected back Tuesday, the Sharks could see a boost in offensive production. However, only three teams have allowed more goals and expected goals per 60 minutes than San Jose, and the 18-year-old isn’t going to impact that area of their game.

How a sports bettor handicaps this matchup will largely depend on the starting goaltenders, especially whether Columbus goes with Elvis Merzlikins or Daniil Tarasov. There’s a noticeable gap between the two, with Merzlikins delivering average goaltending, while Tarasov has ranked among the league’s worst. However, I see one player prop bet that looks promising, regardless of who starts in goal.

Zach Werenski’s stock had dropped in recent seasons due to injuries and the Blue Jackets’ struggles, but he’s reminding everyone of his talent. Werenski leads the team with 85 shot attempts—29 more than the next-highest player—and only four defensemen in the league have attempted more shots per 60 minutes.

The 27-year-old has registered four or more shots in five of 11 games this season, including three of four road games. The Sharks, who have allowed more shot attempts than all but three teams and rank seventh-worst in shots against per 60 minutes, are a favorable matchup for him. Bettors should shop around for the best odds, though.

Follow Andy’s bets on the Action App here.