Colorado Avalanche vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/03/2025

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Thursday, April 3, 2025

Venue:  Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -155, Blue Jackets +130; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -155, Blue Jackets +130; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -155, Blue Jackets +130; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Colorado Avalanche:  45-26-4 (3rd place, Central Division)

Columbus Blue Jackets:  34-30-9 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

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Colorado Avalanche:  6-2-2 last 10

Columbus Blue Jackets:  3-6-1 last 10

The Avalanche are entering this game with 94 points, a 45-26-4 record overall, and they are 20-15-1 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Calgary Flames in their last game, losing that one at home 3-2 in a shootout, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Chicago Blackhawks still to be played on Wednesday night. In their game against the Flames, Cale Makar and Logan O'Connor each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Parker Kelly, Nathan MacKinnon, and Devon Toews each led the team in assists with 1 while Cale Makar, Logan O'Connor, and Valeri Nichushkin each led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Scott Wedgewood was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 27 shots with 25 saves and a .926 save percentage. Their offense has scored 251 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 211 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The Blue Jackets are entering this game with 77 points, a 34-30-9 record overall, and they are 22-9-5 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Nashville Predators in their last game, winning that one at home 8-4. Kirill Marchenko recorded the hattrick with 3 goals scored, Sean Monahan and Adam Fantilli each scored 2 goals, and Dante Fabbro scored 1 goal for them in that one. Kent Johnson led the team in assists with 3 while Kirill Marchenko led the team in shots on net in that game with 6. Elvis Merzļikins 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 242 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 246 goals against them allowing 3.4 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Avalanche listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Avalanche have looked good in their games this season with their 45-26-4 record overall which has them in 3rd place of their division in the West and in a playoff spot. They have also been a good road team this year with their 20-15-1 road record. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets haven't looked great in their games this season with their 34-30-9 record overall which has them in 4th place of their division in the East, but that record does have them just 2 points behind the last Wild Card team in a tight race. They have looked really good on home ice this year with their 22-9-5 home record, but lately they haven't looked great. They are coming off a huge home win over the Predators in their last one, winning 8-4, but that isn't an impressive win against one of the worst teams in the West. The Blue Jackets are also 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and were in a good position to make the playoffs, but now they have been choking it away. The Avalanche are also coming off a loss in their last one, losing at home in a shootout to the Flames, and they have lost 2 games in a row now too. The Avalanche are also 6-2-2 in their last 10 games though and have been the much better team all season. They do have a game against the Blackhawks on Wednesday as they are playing on a back-to-back here, but they have the talent to win both games against lesser opponents. The Avalanche also have a really hot Blues team starting to get on their tail in the division so they are going to lock in for these last few games and try to get some momentum going into the playoffs. The best way to place a bet here is on the Avalanche to win this game. 

Avalanche Blue Jackets Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, April 3, 2025 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Avalanche 5 Blue Jackets 3.

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Colorado Avalanche: 44-25 (+7.7 units) on the moneyline revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 44-14 (+20.7 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%). 98-45 (+19.3 units) on the moneyline against poor defensive teams - opponents average 29.5+ shots on goal. 29-18 UNDER revenging a loss vs opponent as a home favorite.

Columbus Blue Jackets: 69-132 (-15.8 units) on the moneyline as an underdog. 37-79 (-12.7 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 43-92 (-14.6 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 39-26 UNDER versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 0.5+ goals/game.

Colorado Avalanche:  J. Manson (D) Out - Upper Body. G. Landeskog (LW) Out - Knee. T. Poolman (D) Out For Season - Head.

Columbus Blue Jackets:  K. Labanc (RW) Out For Season - Upper Body.

“I didn't think we played very well tonight. I didn't love our effort at times. I didn’t like the defending detail at times during the game, and then we had trouble putting the puck in the net a little bit again tonight. So, not real pleased with the way we played tonight." - Jared Bednar after his team’s loss against the Flames in their game on Monday.

“The reason he's had success is because he has been hard, because he's been heavy, because he's been tenacious on pucks. He's getting more opportunities because he's getting it back. He's not just one and done. He's not just fanning out and looking for a one-timer, which was fantastic tonight.” - Dean Evason after his team’s win against the Predators in their game on Tuesday.

LW Artturi Lehkonen

C Nathan MacKinnon

RW Jonathan Drouin

LD Devon Toews

RD Cale Makar

G Scott Wedgewood

LW Dmitri Voronkov

C Sean Monahan

RW Kirill Marchenko

LD Zach Werenski

RD Dante Fabbro

G Elvis Merzlikins

Points: N. MacKinnon (110)

Goals: N. MacKinnon (30)

Assists: N. MacKinnon (80)

GAA: S.Wedgewood (2.24)

Points: Z. Werenski (74)

Goals: K. Marchenko (31)

Assists: Z. Werenski (54)

GAA: E. Merzlikins (3.11)

Coaches:

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (9th season)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Dean Evason (1st season)