Face-off: 1900 ET, 13/04/2022
Arena: Nationwide Arena
Columbus Blue Jackets will be eliminated from the play-offs if they do not beat the Montreal Canadiens.
The Blue Jackets are 18 points behind the Washington Capitals in the second wildcard place with just nine games remaining.
Montreal have lost two in a row and sit bottom of the Eastern Conference and clinging to their slim hopes of staying alive can see the Blue Jackets win by two goals at 7.00 in the first of our Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadiens predictions.
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Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
First-round pick Kent Johnson and Nick Blankenburg could be handed their NHL debuts against Montreal.
The University of Michigan team-mates were signed to entry-level deals last week and at least one, if not both, is expected to be in the line-up.
Coach Brad Larsen will make a late decision on the pair after morning skate and he has urged his team to keep up the effort as they struggle with injuries.
They recorded a 5-4 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings last time out and Larsen wants more of the same.
He said: “We’re in a tough situation, some real key guys are out right now for us. We need effort every night.
“Yeah, there are some things we need to shore up.
“We had some puck management issues and some breakdowns there that are easy fixes if we’re on our game but as far as what we’re asking these guys to do, making sure we’re gonna give it, they were physical, there was some juice in the building. It was great.”
Columbus can carry the momentum from the win over Detroit into the first period and go into the first intermission ahead at 2.30 in NHL odds.
Montreal Canadiens Odds
The Canadiens have revealed goaltender Jake Allen and defenceman Justin Barron are out for the rest of the season.
Allen has been ruled out by a groin injury and Barron by an ankle problem but both will be ready for the start of training camp.
Prospect Emil Heineman is also unavailable with an upper-body injury and did not travel with the team.
Veteran defenceman David Savard will return to Ohio where he played 597 regular season games for Columbus in a 10-year stay.
It will be Savard’s first return to the Nationwide Arena since he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the deadline last season and then signed as a free agent in Montreal over the summer.
“It’ll be very special to get back there,” said Savard. “It’ll bring back a lot of good memories of good things and good years.”
Montreal can push the home side with plenty of young talent but the Blue Jackets to win with over 5.5 goals at 2.45 which completes our NHL predictions.
Additional stats
Last result:
MONTREAL 2-4 Winnipeg
Detroit 4-5 COLUMBUS (OT)
Head-to-head: Montreal 3-6 Columbus, Montreal 1-2 Columbus
