The Columbus Blue Jackets, riding an impressive five-game winning streak, welcome the San Jose Sharks to Nationwide Arena on Thursday night in what promises to be an intriguing cross-conference battle.
Columbus has been one of the NHL's hottest teams lately, surging into playoff contention with an 8-2 record in their last ten games while ranking fifth in the league in goals per game.
The visiting Sharks, despite coming off an encouraging 6-3 victory over Detroit, have struggled this season with a 3-7 record in their last ten games and sit at the bottom of the Western Conference.
The contrast in momentum couldn't be starker, with the Blue Jackets' high-powered offense led by Zach Werenski facing a Sharks team that ranks 28th in both goals scored and goals allowed per game.
While the Blue Jackets appear to have the upper hand, they'll need to be wary of a Sharks team that already defeated them 2-1 in their previous meeting this season.
As these teams prepare to face off in Columbus, both squads will have to overcome their respective injury concerns, with multiple players listed as day-to-day for both sides.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks: who will win?
For tonight's Columbus Blue Jackets vs San Jose Sharks matchup, our predictive model gives the Blue Jackets a 68.67% chance of defeating the Sharks.
Columbus Blue Jackets: 68.67% win probability
- Outstanding recent form (Perfect 5-game streak: WWWWW)
- Superior offensive output (152 goals for vs Sharks' 120)
- Better overall standing (8th in Eastern Conference vs Sharks' 15th in Western)
San Jose Sharks: 31.33% win probability
- Poor defensive record (161 goals against, worst in their division)
- Struggling win-loss record (14-26, lowest in Pacific Division)
- Inconsistent recent form (WLLLW showing instability)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks odds
| Columbus Blue Jackets | San Jose Sharks | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | -170 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | +145 (via BetMGM Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Columbus Blue Jackets have won 21 out of 44 matches this season.
- 2The San Jose Sharks have won 14 out of 46 matches this season.
- 3With 48 points, the Columbus Blue Jackets holds the 8th position in the league standings.
- 4San Jose Sharks's 34 points place them 15th in the rankings.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks form
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks head to head
Columbus Blue Jackets
67%
San Jose Sharks
33%
Nov 6, 2024
San Jose Sharks
2 : 1
Columbus Blue Jackets
Mar 16, 2024
Columbus Blue Jackets
4 : 2
San Jose Sharks
Feb 18, 2024
San Jose Sharks
3 : 4
Columbus Blue Jackets
Mar 15, 2023
San Jose Sharks
5 : 6
Columbus Blue Jackets
Jan 22, 2023
Columbus Blue Jackets
5 : 3
San Jose Sharks
Apr 20, 2022
San Jose Sharks
3 : 2
Columbus Blue Jackets
