<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Join Nation Network betting analyst Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Thursday’s matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blue Jackets vs. Golden Knights Odds</span></h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline: +225</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Edmonton Oilers Moneyline: -275</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Puck Line: Blue Jackets +1.5 (-110), Oilers -1.5 (-110)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game Total: 6.5 (Over -130, Under +110)</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.</span></i></p>
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<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Handicapping the Blue Jackets (11-13 SU, 14-10 ATS, 16-7-1 O/U)</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Edmonton learned the hard way, underestimating the Blue Jackets can backfire. The Oilers, tired from an overtime game the night before, visited Columbus earlier this season and were <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-disaster-in-columbus-as-oilers-get-hammered-by-blue-jackets">crushed 6-1</a>. <a href="https://x.com/NationNMedia/status/1851043278919180725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851043278919180725%7Ctwgr%5Ef498016679539175b9a7eee89f10fa11ac3d0a98%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Foilersnation.com%2Fnews%2Finstant-reaction-disaster-in-columbus-as-oilers-get-hammered-by-blue-jackets">Connor McDavid’s injury 37 seconds into the game</a> didn’t help, but Edmonton was already down 3-0 after the first period and 4-0 after the second. Their only goal came in the final minute, long after Columbus had put up six.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The takeaway? Columbus is much tougher than expected. They’re playing like a top-10 offensive team, ranking eighth in goals per 60 minutes, with only two teams generating more shots on goal this season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That said, while the Blue Jackets have won six of their last nine games, including some against strong opponents, they’ve struggled on the road. A recent two-game road win streak snapped a seven-game skid, but they’ve still only won three of 12 road games so far.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Defense remains an issue, though Columbus sits in the middle of the pack in categories like shot attempts and expected goals against. The bigger problem lies in the net. Starter Elvis Merzlikins and backup Daniil Tarasov have both struggled, allowing about 12 more goals than league-average goaltending would have.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only four teams have allowed more goals than Columbus this season.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Handicapping the Oilers (13-12 SU, 8-17 ATS, 10-14-1 O/U)</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Apparently, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-oilers-need-their-offence-to-be-greasier">I was naive to think Edmonton’s shutout woes were behind them</a>. The Oilers were shut out just three times all last season, but <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/golden-knights-extend-pacific-division-lead-oilers-shut-out-for-the-4th-time-and-capitalizing-on-chances">Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to the Golden Knights in Vegas</a> marked their fourth shutout defeat in 25 games this season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To be fair, Edmonton was extremely unlucky not to score on any of their 28 shots. According to Evolving Hockey, the Oilers generated 3.11 expected goals compared to Vegas’s 1.12, but Adin Hill stole the show. In other words, the shutout wasn’t due to a lack of effort, and the road trip was successful overall.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What’s harder to overlook is another lackluster performance against a team they should beat. The Oilers are supposed to dominate on home ice, yet they haven’t delivered. They’ve won three of their last four at Rogers Place but are 5-6-1 at home this season—a far cry from their .642 home win rate over the last three seasons.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stuart Skinner has been better as of late, allowing two or fewer goals in four out of his last five matchups, which should help the Oilers continue their upward trend, but the team just isn’t anywhere close to as dominant as they were last season and backup goaltender Calvin Pickard will be starting against Columbus. Not to mention, they still aren’t at full strength, but thankfully, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/zach-hyman-evan-bouchard-and-stuart-skinner-left-off-canadas-4-nations-face-off-roster">Zach Hyman</a> will return on Thursday after missing five games, and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/mattias-ekholm-and-viktor-arvidsson-named-to-swedens-4-nations-face-off-roster">Viktor Arvidsson</a> are close to returning.</span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Best Bet for Blue Jackets vs. Oilers</span></h2>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both Teams To Score 3+ Goals (+155) at Sports Interaction</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the game total set at 6.5 (over -130), this is expected to be Thursday’s highest-scoring matchup. Columbus is 16-7-1 to the over this season, and Edmonton is 7-4 to the over in their last 11 games. Both teams rank among the top three in shots per 60 minutes, so high-event hockey at Rogers Place seems likely. Because of that, I’m backing both teams to score three or more goals at +155 odds.</span></p>


<span style="font-weight: 400;">Join Nation Network betting analyst Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Thursday’s matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers.</span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blue Jackets vs. Golden Knights Odds</span></h2>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline: +225</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Edmonton Oilers Moneyline: -275</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Puck Line: Blue Jackets +1.5 (-110), Oilers -1.5 (-110)</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game Total: 6.5 (Over -130, Under +110)</span></li>
</ul>
<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.</span></i><div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Handicapping the Blue Jackets (11-13 SU, 14-10 ATS, 16-7-1 O/U)</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">As Edmonton learned the hard way, underestimating the Blue Jackets can backfire. The Oilers, tired from an overtime game the night before, visited Columbus earlier this season and were <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-disaster-in-columbus-as-oilers-get-hammered-by-blue-jackets">crushed 6-1</a>. <a href="https://x.com/NationNMedia/status/1851043278919180725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851043278919180725%7Ctwgr%5Ef498016679539175b9a7eee89f10fa11ac3d0a98%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Foilersnation.com%2Fnews%2Finstant-reaction-disaster-in-columbus-as-oilers-get-hammered-by-blue-jackets">Connor McDavid’s injury 37 seconds into the game</a> didn’t help, but Edmonton was already down 3-0 after the first period and 4-0 after the second. Their only goal came in the final minute, long after Columbus had put up six.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The takeaway? Columbus is much tougher than expected. They’re playing like a top-10 offensive team, ranking eighth in goals per 60 minutes, with only two teams generating more shots on goal this season.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">That said, while the Blue Jackets have won six of their last nine games, including some against strong opponents, they’ve struggled on the road. A recent two-game road win streak snapped a seven-game skid, but they’ve still only won three of 12 road games so far.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Defense remains an issue, though Columbus sits in the middle of the pack in categories like shot attempts and expected goals against. The bigger problem lies in the net. Starter Elvis Merzlikins and backup Daniil Tarasov have both struggled, allowing about 12 more goals than league-average goaltending would have.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Only four teams have allowed more goals than Columbus this season.</span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Handicapping the Oilers (13-12 SU, 8-17 ATS, 10-14-1 O/U)</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Apparently, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-oilers-need-their-offence-to-be-greasier">I was naive to think Edmonton’s shutout woes were behind them</a>. The Oilers were shut out just three times all last season, but <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/golden-knights-extend-pacific-division-lead-oilers-shut-out-for-the-4th-time-and-capitalizing-on-chances">Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to the Golden Knights in Vegas</a> marked their fourth shutout defeat in 25 games this season.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">To be fair, Edmonton was extremely unlucky not to score on any of their 28 shots. According to Evolving Hockey, the Oilers generated 3.11 expected goals compared to Vegas’s 1.12, but Adin Hill stole the show. In other words, the shutout wasn’t due to a lack of effort, and the road trip was successful overall.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What’s harder to overlook is another lackluster performance against a team they should beat. The Oilers are supposed to dominate on home ice, yet they haven’t delivered. They’ve won three of their last four at Rogers Place but are 5-6-1 at home this season—a far cry from their .642 home win rate over the last three seasons.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Stuart Skinner has been better as of late, allowing two or fewer goals in four out of his last five matchups, which should help the Oilers continue their upward trend, but the team just isn’t anywhere close to as dominant as they were last season and backup goaltender Calvin Pickard will be starting against Columbus. Not to mention, they still aren’t at full strength, but thankfully, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/zach-hyman-evan-bouchard-and-stuart-skinner-left-off-canadas-4-nations-face-off-roster">Zach Hyman</a> will return on Thursday after missing five games, and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/mattias-ekholm-and-viktor-arvidsson-named-to-swedens-4-nations-face-off-roster">Viktor Arvidsson</a> are close to returning.</span><div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2110" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="330"></div>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Best Bet for Blue Jackets vs. Oilers</span></h2>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both Teams To Score 3+ Goals (+155) at Sports Interaction</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">With the game total set at 6.5 (over -130), this is expected to be Thursday’s highest-scoring matchup. Columbus is 16-7-1 to the over this season, and Edmonton is 7-4 to the over in their last 11 games. Both teams rank among the top three in shots per 60 minutes, so high-event hockey at Rogers Place seems likely. Because of that, I’m backing both teams to score three or more goals at +155 odds.</span>

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