The Columbus Blue Jackets (0-2) hit the Gateway City to face the St. Louis Blues (0-0) in a Saturday matchup at Enterprise Center. Faceoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jackets vs. Blues, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Blue Jackets are off to a rough start after 4-1 and 5-2 losses to the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday and Tampa Bay Lightning Friday, respectively. The sledding doesn’t get any easier with another playoff team in the Blues in the Jackets’ way.
Columbus is reeling without RW Patrik Laine, who will miss a month with an upper-body injury suffered in the Carolina loss. Newly acquired LW Johnny Gaudreau has 1 goal as his only point thus far, and he can get hot at any time.
The Blues enter the season with chips on their shoulders. The media seemingly writing them off is only going to intensify it with some national outlets questioning whether they’ll make the playoffs.