Colorado Avalanche vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 10/16/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Colorado Avalanche vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Fanduel Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Avalanche (-152) Blue Jackets (+126)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2-0) welcome the Colorado Avalanche (3-0-1) at Nationwide Arena on Thursday. The moneyline on this game has the Avalanche at -152 and the Blue Jackets are sitting at +126. The total is set at 6.

The Colorado Avalanche were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 3-1 win against the Sabres their last time on the ice. Colorado compiled 8 minutes in the box in this contest. The Avalanche had an average offensive performance in the win. Additionally, they had 4 power play opportunities but weren't able to make the most of them. In the game, they were able to notch a goal on 3 of the 37 shots they tried.

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While playing at even strength, the Avalanche have allowed the opponent to score 5 goals while notching 10 when they are on offense. Colorado Avalanche opponents have tallied 12 power play opportunities (13th in the NHL) and have notched 2 goals in those chances. With respect to their scoring capabilities, the Colorado Avalanche have accumulated 13 goals (7th in the league) so far this year and have conceded 7. Colorado has attempted 126 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 10.3%. For the current season, they have recorded 7 points and their points % is .875. The Avalanche so far have had 108 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .935. Colorado is sitting with 19 power play opportunities and they have added 3 goals during those advantages, earning them a percentage of 15.79%.

The player between the pipes for this game is Scott Wedgewood. Wedgewood has been in net for 158 games throughout his professional hockey career. He has earned a record of 65-54-25 and he started in 140 games. The opposition has notched 420 goals against Wedgewood in his pro career and his goals against rate is 3.00. Wedgewood has had 4,512 shots against him and has recorded 4,092 saves. His save percentage currently is .907 during his 8,172 mins in the crease. For his career, Wedgewood is sitting with 70 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .500.

Their last time out, Columbus went up against the Devils in an outing where the Blue Jackets took the defeat by a score of 3-2. They had 5 power play attempts in this matchup but weren't able to notch a goal. The Blue Jackets converted 2 goals of the 33 shots on goal they attempted.

For the year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have notched a total of 10 goals, 2 points, and a points percentage of .333. They have permitted 9 goals to be scored by of a combination of 2 goals at even strength and 7 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Blue Jackets have earned 9 goals at even strength and 1 goal (29th in the league) while on the power play. They have a tally of 9 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play rate of 11.11%. Columbus has attempted 104 shots (13th in the league) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.62%, while allowing the other team 112 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 50.00% on their opponents 14 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 92.0%.

Across the ice you are going to see Elvis Merzlikins defending the net. Merzlikins has earned a career mark of 95-100-35 and has been in net for 245 games. Merzlikins' quality start percentage sits at 48.3% and he has 111 quality starts in his career. He has a tally of 6,698 saves out of the 7,428 shots attempted, giving him a save percentage of .902. His opposition is averaging 3.17 goals/game and he has yielded 730 goals overall. He has started in 230 games and has played 12,935 minutes.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+126)

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