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Capitals vs. Blue Jackets Odds, Picks, Predictions: Can Columbus Cover?

Scott Cullen

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 2:09 PM EST • 2 min 28 sec read.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 06: Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Columbus Blue Jackets stops a shot during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on January 06, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. Photo by ELSA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

The Washington Capitals continue to battle for a playoff spot as they visit the last place Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Read on for our best Capitals vs. Blue Jackets pick based on top odds.

The new year hasn't been kind to the Capitals.

Following an incredible 11-2-2 run in December, Washington faded in January, going just 5-7 since the calendar turned to 2023.

Although the Capitals sit in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division, they only have one more point than the Pittsburgh Penguins, despite playing in three more games.

Things are even worse for the Blue Jackets, who lead the race to have the best odds to select Western Hockey League phenom Connor Bedard with the first pick in the 2023 draft.

Columbus has a 5-17-1 record in its past 23 games but have had better results with Joonas Korpisalo in net; he's scheduled to start Tuesday.

Here is our best Capitals vs. Blue Jackets NHL pick (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Check out our NHL best bets.

Capitals vs. Blue Jackets game info

  • Date: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN+, BSOH, NBCSWA
  • Location: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH

Capitals vs. Blue Jackets odds

Check out our complete list of NHL odds!

Capitals vs. Blue Jackets odds analysis

The FanDuel moneyline opened with the Capitals at -220, compared to the Blue Jackets at +180. With a nice 69% of the early consensus moneyline wagers on the Capitals, the price has still moved towards Columbus.

The Capitals are now -215 and Blue Jackets are +176 at FanDuel.

The total has remained steady at 6.5. The opening price was -120 for the Under and -102 for the Over. With 56% of the early consensus action coming in on the Over, the price for the total is now -114 for the Under and -108 for the Over.

Check out our Stanley Cup odds!

Capitals vs. Blue Jackets pick

Blue Jackets +1.5 vs. Capitals (-140 via DraftKings)  ⭐⭐⭐

Make no mistake: Columbus is not a good hockey team. However, the Blue Jackets are better than where they sit in the standings.

Goaltending has been a major issue for the Blue Jackets, but Korpisalo has an 8-9-2 record to go with a .907 save percentage. His save percentage and Goals Saved Above Expected hover around league average – but for the Blue Jackets, that is a massive improvement.

As for the Capitals, they have one regulation win in nine games since a 1-0 home victory against Columbus on Jan. 8.

While Washington is a little above average in terms of puck possession, the Caps have been undone by percentages lately – including a .897 save rate in January, which ranks 28th. Starter Darcy Kuemper has a .904 save percentage in January after posting a .920 save percentage in the first three months of the season.

If the Capitals were playing like they did in December, I would be inclined to take them on the puck line – but their play has fallen off and it gives Columbus a shot to at least keep it close even if it doesn't pull off the upset.

Check out our Rocket Richard Trophy odds.

Capitals vs. Blue Jackets best odds

DraftKings, Caesars, PointsBet (-140) 

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsPointsBet
-140 🔥-144 ❄️-143 -140 🔥-140 🔥

There is not a massive variance in pricing for the Blue Jackets on the puck line, but getting an extra three to four percent by making the pick at DraftKings, Caesars, or PointsBet is more favorable.

If you’re feeling frisky, the Blue Jackets go for +185 on the moneyline at PointsBet, but I’m more inclined to think that Columbus can keep it close but still ultimately fall short.

Capitals-Blue Jackets pick made 1/31/2023 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

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Written By:
Scott Cullen
Scott Cullen is SportsbookReview.com's Sports Betting Analyst and is one of the most well-known sports betting writers on the web. He wrote about fantasy sports for TSN for many years, and he has also written for The Athletic, NHL.com, The Hockey News, Monkey Knife Fight, and McKeen's Hockey. Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Cullen was an Economics major at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and played for the Laurier Golden Hawks hockey team.