Columbus +1.30 over VANCOUVER Pinnacle
In years gone by when the Jackets were visiting Vancouver the Canucks would be a much higher price than the one you see here. That’s significant because it gives us an idea of what the linesmakers think of both teams and this line suggests that the Jackets are on the rise big time. I couldn’t agree more. This invader is hungry and although it was just one game and it was at home, they played with a ton of grit and heart and you can expect more of the same tonight. Steve Mason in net is absolutely the real deal and Raffi Torres played like a man possessed. The Jackets roll out one great line and two other lines that could crack the line-up of any team in the league. This is a team that does not have many flaws at all and could thrive this season. Meanwhile, the Canucks are 0-2 after losing to Calgary and Colorado. The Flames jumped all over them early and built a 3-0 lead before the game was 12 minutes old. They out-chanced the Av’s on Saturday in the first two periods but looked frustrated in the third and were outplayed, eventually losing 3-0. Only the top line is creating anything right now and it’s also interesting to note that Roberto Luongo has a history of starting slowly. In fact, Luongo has spoken often about his dislike for October (he was 4-4 with a 3.39 goals-against average and .886 save percentage in the first month last season). The Canucks appear very beatable right now while the Jackets do not and thus, the visitor gets the call. Play: Columbus +1.20 (Risking 2 units).