Columbus Blue Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/19/2022

Time: 10:30 p.m. ET

Venue: SAP Center, San Jose, CA

Where to watch: Bally Sports Ohio, NBC Sports California

DraftKings: Sharks -135, Blue Jackets +110

BetMGM: Sharks -130, Blue Jackets +105

Caesars: Sharks -130, Blue Jackets +110

Blue Jackets: 35-35-6

Sharks: 29-34-12

Nothing like a fun game between two teams playing for absolutely nothing to get you excited for a Tuesday night. The Columbus Blue Jackets, fresh off being swept in a back-to-back Southern California road trip, will now head north to take on the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Tuesday.

Both teams are coming in on losing streaks, but not as bad as the Sharks, who have lost 10 straight and are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. The win clinched a playoff spot for the Wild, which is exactly territory the Sharks have not been in for some time.

The Sharks have played teams tough, at least getting one point ouf of the matter, but it’s still a situation San Jose has not been accustomed to and won’t be in for a while. Three players had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, but goaltending was once again a liability with James Reimer making 23 saves.

"It's crazy how close we are on a lot of nights," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "I've never been through anything like this as a coach or as a player, losing this many games.

"The first thing as a coach you want your team to do is play hard, be competitive, be hard to play against. Those things are all happening. That's a real important part. The rest will follow. It's a process here and we said this over the last two years, it's slow and it's painful sometimes, but there's things going on that are good. It's a process and to be a part of it, they're going to be nights like this, and there's been quite a few of these lately."

Honestly, for me, it’s hard sometimes to be looking at a group of players playing hard through a 10-game losing streak. Had it not been for those four pity points in those OTLs, this could be another damaging situation for the psyche of this franchise that has the talent that should be much, much better than where it is right now.

The same can be said for the Blue Jackets, but they’ve at least won recently and are trying their best to win down the stretch and build for the future. Columbus lost 6-4 on Sunday to the Anaheim Ducks in what had to be a tired team coming to Honda Center after losing 2-1 to the Los Angeles Kings the night before.

Jake Bean had two goals, and J-F Berube made 26 saves, as the group now sits 35-35-6. More wins than regulation losses would be seen as an accomplishment with this group that’s relying on the young players to get them far down the road.

"Another tough start for us," Columbus forward Justin Danforth said. "Couldn't pull off the win, but there was the battle back, for sure."

If you’re interested in futures odds, I’d look real hard at Columbus. The young talent with Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson and others is going to be fun going forward. Their blue line is in good hands with Zach Werenski and the young guys around him, and the goaltending is still solid in the future with Elvis Merzlikins.

I wouldn’t be shocked if they tried to take another leap and make the playoffs next season.

But for now, I think the Sharks are finally overdue. The only way they’re losing this game is if Merzlikins goes all-in and dominates that game. I think the Sharks can get a few past him, and if they work with a lead, I think San Jose can pull one out and get a much-needed win to back up Boughner’s claim. Sharks win 4-3

Blue Jackets are 9-12 this season of a road loss.

Blue Jackets are 15-9 this season after a loss by two goals or more in the previous game.

Sharks are 9-13 all-time following three straight losses by one goal.

Sharks are 13-24 this season after playing a road game.

Blue Jackets:

Gustav Nyquist -- Jack Roslovic -- Patrik Laine

Jakub Voracek -- Cole Sillinger -- Emil Bemstrom

Kent Johnson -- Justin Danforth -- Oliver Bjorkstrand

Eric Robinson -- Sean Kuraly -- Carson Meyer

Zach Werenski -- Andrew Peeke

Vladislav Gavrikov -- Adam Boqvist

Jake Bean -- Gavin Bayreuther

Elvis Merzlikins

Sharks:

Timo Meier -- Logan Couture -- Sasha Chmelevski

Jasper Weatherby -- Tomas Hertl -- Matt Nieto

Scott Reedy -- Nick Bonino -- Jonathan Dahlen

Rudolfs Balcers --Thomas Bordeleau -- Noah Gregor

Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Brent Burns

Santeri Hatakka -- Nicolas Meloche

Mario Ferraro -- Ryan Merkley

James Reimer

Points: Patrik Laine -- 56

Goals: Patrik Laine -- 26

Assists: Jakub Voracek -- 50

Goalie: Elvis Merzlikins -- 25-20-6, 3.32 GAA, .905 SSV%

Points: Timo Meier -- 73

Goals: Timo Meier -- 33

Assists: Brent Burns -- 41

Goalie: James Reimer -- 18-16-9, 2.84 GAA, .912 SV%