This inter-conference duel is going to conclude a six-game slate in the NHL on Sunday, February 18, and here you can take a look at the best Blue Jackets vs. Coyotes betting pick and odds.

Arizona will open a four-game home stand when they host Columbus at Mullett Arena. The Coyotes are -122 moneyline favorites on BetOnline Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. These inter-conference rivals will meet for the second time this season; the Coyotes won 6-3 in Columbus back in October.

Blue Jackets beat the Jets at home

The Columbus Blue Jackets (17-34-3-1, 26-29 ATS) opened their two-game homestay with a 3-2 tight defeat to the New Jersey Devils but responded with a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The Blue Jackets will play the next two games on the road; on Saturday they will meet the Dallas Stars, after which they will face the Coyotes in Arizona. Columbus is still the team with the worst record in the entire NHL as they collected 38 points thus far.

The Blue Jackets trailed 1-0 to the Jets at home but managed to respond through Patrik Laine, Kent Johnson, and Boone Jenner. Joonas Korpisalo was solid in the cage as he stopped 37 of Winnipeg’s 38 shots. Johnny Gaudreau has been the Jackets’ best player this season with 52 points (G 15, A 37), and is the only Columbus player among the top 100 in the NHL.

Elvis Merzlikins (6-15-0) is expected to start between the sticks against Arizona on Sunday. The 28-year-old is surrendering 4.28 goals per contest this year along with a .873 SV% and no shutouts.

RW Jakub Voracek (concussion), LW Gustav Nyquist (upper body), LW Johnny Gaudreau (lower body), D Zach Werenski (shoulder), and D Jake Bean (upper body) are out indefinitely. D Vladislav Gavrikov (undisclosed) is questionable to play on Sunday in Arizona.

Coyotes edged the Lightning in the shootout

The Arizona Coyotes (19-28-6-2, 30-25 ATS) closed their three-game road trip with a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, after which they returned home and edged the Tampa Bay Lightning 1-0 in the shootout. The Coyotes will open a four-game homestay on Sunday against the Blue Jackets, but will first face the Los Angeles Kings on the road on Saturday.

Arizona’s goaltender Connor Ingram was fantastic between the sticks as he stopped 47 shots from Tampa Bay and registered his first-ever shutout and helped the Coyotes force overtime and then the shootout. He added two more saves in the SO, while Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller scored to give the Coyotes two points. So far this year, Clayton Keller is the only Coyote among the top 100 players in the league with 50 points (G 21, A 29).

Connor Ingram (4-11-3) will get his place in the cage once again as Arizona takes on Columbus on Sunday. The 25-year-old is allowing 3.38 goals per game this season with a .907 SV% and one shutout.

LW Andrew Ladd (knee) and D Shayne Gostisbehere (upper body) are out indefinitely and will not feature on Sunday against the Blue Jackets.

Trends:

Columbus:

  • 8-22 in the last 30 games playing without rest
  • 1-4 in the last five vs. a team with a losing record
  • 1-7 in the last eight in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation

Arizona:

  • 4-1 in the last five home games

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Arizona Coyotes Pick

Both teams will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set. Considering the Coyotes won five of their last seven games at home, I am giving them an advantage on Sunday. Arizona is slightly better in both offense and defense, and given the Jackets’ best player Gaudreau is unavailable to play here, I am backing the Coyotes to get a W. Although Arizona doesn’t have such a good H2H record when playing at home, the Coyotes did score six goals in a 6-3 win earlier in the season in Columbus.

Pick: Take the Coyotes to win (-122)

The Total

Even though these teams are among the worst when it comes to defense, we can’t ignore the fact they are among the weakest five in the NHL on offense. Columbus is scoring just 2.44 goals per game opposite Arizona’s 2.62 gpg, and that’s why I don’t expect many goals here. Under is 3-1-1 in the last five H2H meetings in Arizona; Under is 5-2-1 in the Blue Jackets’ previous eight overall, Under is 6-1 in Columbus’ previous seven vs. Central Division rivals, while Under is 12-5-1 in the Coyotes’ last 18 overall.

Pick: Go Under 6.5 (-110)