Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/30/2025

Game Time: 10:00 pm ET, Thursday, January 30, 2025

Venue:  T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  CBJ +185, VGK -225; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  CBJ +185, VGK -225; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  CBJ +185, VGK -225; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Columbus Blue Jackets:  24-19-7 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

Vegas Golden Knights:  31-15-5 (2nd place, Pacific Division)

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Columbus Blue Jackets:  7-2-1 last 10

Vegas Golden Knights:  3-5-2 last 10

The Blue Jackets are entering this game with 55 points, a 24-19-7 record overall, and they are 7-14-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Los Angeles Kings in their last game, winning that one at home 3-2 in overtime. Dante Fabbro, Kirill Marchenko, and Zach Werenski each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Justin Danforth, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Kent Johnson, Ivan Provorov, Damon Severson, and James van Riemsdyk each led the team in assists with 1 while Zach Werenski led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Elvis Merzļikins was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 33 shots with 31 saves and a .939 save percentage. Their offense has scored 169 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 168 goals against them allowing 3.4 goals per game.

The Golden Knights are entering this game with 67 points, a 31-15-5 record overall, and they are 19-6-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Dallas Stars in their last game, losing that one at home 4-3 in OT. Pavel Dorofeyev, Jack Eichel, and Tomáš Hertl each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Mark Stone led the team in assists with 2 while Mark Stone led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Adin Hill was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 4 goals on 28 shots with 24 saves and a .857 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 174 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 143 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Golden Knights listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Golden Knights have looked really good in their games this season with their 31-15-5 record overall which has them in 2nd place of their division in the West. They have also looked great on home ice this year with their 19-6-2 home record. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets have looked good in their games this season with their 24-19-7 record overall which has them in 4th place of their division in the East. They have been a terrible road team though with their 7-14-4 road record this season. They have looked really good lately with their 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games and they are coming off a win over the Kings in their last one, but the Golden Knights have looked so good on home ice all year and they are going to be desperate for a bounce back win in this game. They haven't looked good at all lately, going 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, and they are coming off a 4-3 loss at home to the Stars in OT in a game they blew a lead in. They have been in a slump lately, but the Blue Jackets are not a strong team in the East even though they are in a playoff spot at the moment so this is the perfect game for the Golden Knights to bounce back in and get a much needed win. They can take advantage of how bad the Blue Jackets have been in road games all year. The best way to place a bet here is on the Golden Knights to win this game and on the puckline.

Blue Jackets Golden Knights Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, January 30, 2025 (10:00 pm ET start time) is VGK 4 CBJ 2.

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Columbus Blue Jackets: 75-137 (-24 units) on the moneyline in all games. 5-37 (-24.3 units) on the moneyline as a road underdog of +200 to +300. 14-33 (-12.6 units) on the moneyline off a home win. 45-92 (-12.8 units) on the moneyline against good offensive teams - averaging 29.5+ shots on goal per game.

Vegas Golden Knights: 146-98 (+19.9 units) on the moneyline in all games. 81-43 (+17.8 units) on the moneyline in home games. 91-69 (+16.7 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 35-20 (+8.2 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%).

Columbus Blue Jackets:  C. Sillinger (C) Day To Day - Upper-body. S. Monahan (C) Out - Wrist. B. Jenner (C) Out - Shoulder. Y. Chinakhov (RW) Out - Upper Body. E. Gudbranson (D) Out - Shoulder.

Vegas Golden Knights:  W. Karlsson (C) Out - Lower Body. C. Schwindt (RW) Out - Lower Body. L. Cormier (D) Out - Undisclosed.

"A lot of times practice this time of year isn't fun. But with the two days off, I think the guys are excited about being out there." - Dean Evason on the team getting some rest.

“He's their best defenseman. He goes down and never looks good. He's a great player. A ton of respect for the way he plays. But the way we saw it, Stoney got tripped and lost his balance. We're not out there trying to take out good players in the league.” - Bruce Cassidy after his team’s loss against the Stars in their game on Tuesday.

LW Dmitri Voronkov

C Adam Fantilli

RW Kirill Marchenko

LD Zach Werenski

RD Dante Fabbro

G Elvis Merzlikins

LW Ivan Barbashev

C Jack Eichel

RW Mark Stone

LD Brayden McNabb

RD Shea Theodore

G Adin Hill

Points: Z. Werenski (54)

Goals: K. Marchenko (20)

Assists: Z. Werenski (38)

GAA: E. Merzlikins (2.95)

Points: J. Eichel (64)

Goals: P. Dorofeyev (22)

Assists: J. Eichel (48)

GAA: A. Hill (2.64)

Coaches:

Columbus Blue Jackets: Dean Evason (1st season)

Vegas Golden Knights: Bruce Cassidy (3rd season)