Blue Jackets vs Blackhawks Prediction, Picks & Odds – Friday Night Hockey

• The only NHL game of the day features the Columbus Blue Jackets in Chicago to take on the Blackhawks at 8:30 p.m. on NHL Network.
• Columbus is 6-1 since Rick Bowness took over as coach for Dean Evason three weeks ago.
• I’m taking over your screen with my Blue Jackets vs Blackhawks prediction, pick and a look at the best odds for Friday night hockey in Chicago.

20-year-old Connor Bedard is making history for the Chicago Blackhawks (21-24-9), who host the Columbus Blue Jackets (25-20-7) tonight at the United Center.

Bedard has 66 goals in his Chicago career, the most of any Blackhawks player before their 21st birthday, but Chicago is still in rebuilding mode and has lost four in a row and seven of its last nine.

Columbus has been on the upswing since firing their coach and is looking to end a playoff drought. I’m fired up with my prediction and pick for Friday night hockey tonight in Chicago.

Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks Prediction

Columbus hasn’t made the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2019-2020 season, and they shook things up three weeks ago when they fired Dean Evason, even though they had a .500 record at the time. Management said the usual things about sparking play and a sense of urgency, and in this case, it’s actually worked.

The Blue Jackets have won seven of their last eight games and have outscored opponents 31-21 during this run. They’ve gone from the worst record in the East to tied for fourth in the Metropolitan Division, but they’re still eight points out of a wild-card spot.

Werenski leads Columbus with 57 points and 19 goals this season. His career high for a season is 23.

Chicago has 51 points with a third of a season left to play. That’s not much, but consider Chicago had only 61 points all last season when they bottomed out. Bedard returned from an injury Jan. 9, but since he came back, he’s only scored two goals, and his team is 3-7.

Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks Picks

• Columbus -1.5 (+160 at DraftKings)

• Over 6.5 (-130 at DraftKings)

I like Columbus in this game comfortably. The Blue Jackets are surging, and this is also the second game of a back-to-back for Chicago after losing in Pittsburgh Thursday night. Make no mistake, Chicago is much better than they were, but Columbus is starting to put things together for a late-season push.

Spencer Knight will likely start tonight for Chicago in net. He’s lost four of his last six decisions. I expect to see Jet Greaves in net for Columbus. He didn’t play in Wednesday’s win but has won four of his last five outings and is 16-12 this season.

Neither team is an offensive powerhouse. Columbus ranks 20th in goals scored in the NHL this season, and Chicago is 27th, but I think the over is the play. Both teams aren’t great on defense, either. Chicago gave up 44 shots Thursday to Pittsburgh. If you do that, you will give up a lot of goals.

Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks Odds

Odds as of Friday morning from BetMGM. Check out our BetMGM sportsbook review right here.

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Columbus is a 1.5-goal favorite tonight on the road with the total set at 6.5. The total is 6.0 at FanDuel and bet365. Your best moneyline odds are Caesars for Chicago at +126 and FanDuel for Columbus at -146.

This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. They meet again on Feb. 4 in Columbus. The Blue Jackets are 26-26 against the spread this season and 25-24-3 on the over/under.

Chicago has way overperformed against the spread this season. They are 35-19 against the number and 24-30 on the over/under.

Columbus has dominated the series, winning the last five meetings. The Blue Jackets have also covered the puck line in their last nine road games against teams on a losing streak, which Chicago is.

Line shopping for Friday night hockey? Check out the top NHL betting apps for the best odds.

Prop bet alert: Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski has at least one assist in each of his last six games against the Blackhawks.