Panthers vs Blue Jackets Pick: Thursday, January 28th
By
Jan 27, 2021
Panthers vs Blue Jackets Pick: Thursday, January 28th: The Panthers got a Patric Hornqvist goal with 3 seconds left in the game to take it to overtime, and then Horny went ahead and won it in a shootout. This team has been missing grit for years and Patric Hornqvist can deliver just that. I just don’t feel like this Panthers club is a bet on team. They lose Vincent Trochek and Mike Hoffman.
The Panthers defensive Corsi rankings rate their #1 defensive pair of Weegar and Ekblad as the 20th rated in the league, and #2 pairing of Radio Gudas and Anton Stralman as the 2nd worst #2 unit in the NHL. These things will catch up to them. Maybe I shouldn’t be backing the Columbus Blue Jackets before Patrik Laine returns, but I just find this team better up and down the lineup than the Panthers.
At some point, Zach Werenski and Seth Jones will start playing like the #1 defensive pairing in the NHL. Cam Atkinson got off the schnide in the last game and he’s a streaky scorer. I simply see this team as underachieving this year and I don’t expect it to continue for long. Max Domi needs to step up if he wants to be a #1 center and I like the Jenner, Texier, Bjorkstrand line a lot.
The best NHL betting lines and odds for this game are available on our NHL odds page.
Panthers vs Blue Jackets Odds
| Panthers Odds | +100 |
| Blue Jackets Odds | -116 |
| Total | 5.5 |
| Where/When | Nationwide Arena, 7 PM ET |
The Jackets come into Thursday night’s game 2nd in the NHL’s central division, with a 2-5 record and a -4 goal differential, while the Panthers have only played three games this NHL season, they currently sit 5th in the central division, with a 3-0 record, two wins coming in extra-time. The Panthers have outscored their opponents by +1.6 goals per game so far, and have a +5 goal differential.
| NHL Team | Record | Moneyline Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | 3-0 | +$227 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 2-2-3 | -$294 |
