{"id":69665,"date":"2020-02-24T09:00:51","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T14:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=69665"},"modified":"2020-02-24T05:27:02","modified_gmt":"2020-02-24T10:27:02","slug":"nhl-predictions-february-24th-ottawa-senators-vs-columbus-blue-jackets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/02\/24\/nhl-predictions-february-24th-ottawa-senators-vs-columbus-blue-jackets\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: February 24th – Ottawa Senators vs Columbus Blue Jackets"},"content":{"rendered":"

The schedule for Monday is extremely light, so our NHL Predictions will focus on the Ottawa Senators<\/a> and Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> matchup. Last Word On Hockey is dedicated to bringing you a thorough analysis of every game, every night. There is just one game to spotlight tonight, but be sure to check back daily for predictions of every game on the schedule.<\/p>\n

NHL Predictions<\/h2>\n

Ottawa Senators vs Colombus Blue Jackets<\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head: Senators 1 – 1 Blue Jackets<\/h4>\n

The Senators and Blue Jackets will wrap up their three-game season series on Monday. The Senators are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Ottawa has been in rough shape pretty much all season, including their meagre three wins in the past 12 games. Brady Tkachuk<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>racked up 19 penalty minutes in the team’s last game.<\/p>\n

Ottawa lost\u00a0Thomas Chabot<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>to a lower-body injury<\/a> on Saturday, so they will be without him for today’s game. The newly minted netminder\u00a0Marcus Hogberg<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>will likely be in the crease. After 20 games, he’s earned a .908 save percentage.<\/p>\n

The Senators aren’t battling particularly hard for any postseason position. They’ve pretty much accepted their fate and are looking into the hopefully brighter future. At this point, if no one takes a skate to the neck, Ottawa won’t call this year a total bust.<\/p>\n

On the other side of the ice, the Blue Jackets are looking to snap their eight-game losing streak. They’re looking to creep back into a wildcard spot. Despite the team’s underwhelming play as of late, they’re hoping to shake off the bad luck.<\/p>\n

One bright spot for Colombus came on Sunday when they activated netminder Joonas Korpisalo<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>from the injured reserve. In his 32 games prior to the injury, he registered a .913 save percentage. The club has had amazing luck with\u00a0Elvis Merzlikins<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>between the pipes, but anything in front of him has been a total flop.<\/p>\n

Pierre-Luc Dubois<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>leads the team with 44 points this season.\u00a0Oliver Bjorkstrand<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>has 21 goals so far, and defenceman\u00a0Zach Werenski<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is hot on his heels with 18. This team still has some fight left in them. Someone has to come out on top. It will likely be Columbus.<\/p>\n

Prediction: 3-1, Blue Jackets.<\/em><\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>