Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars (-175, 5.5)
The Blue Jackets can’t wait for the quick Christmas break.
Their crumby play has the team an anxious as school kids to get away from the losing atmosphere and smile for a change. Columbus has lost seven straight games and has just one win in its last 11 contests.
"It's tough right now, no doubt about it," center Antoine Vermette told the Columbus Dispatch. "We're not playing very well, but we're not getting any bounces. It doesn't matter who we play. We have to dig down. We have to dig down deep if we're going to get out of this."
Goal scoring has been the biggest issue. While the team has allowed opponents to light the lamp, the Blue Jackets are averaging only 1.85 goals per game during their current funk. Plans to start strong or increase the number of shots have been spoiled by costly turnovers and poor passing.
That frustration boiled over in Columbus’ last game. The Jackets were whistled for 11 penalties, totaling 36 minutes – most of which from roughing and fighting calls in the second and third periods.
"Everybody's mad right now, everybody's frustrated," captain Rick Nash admitted. "We're going to have to dig even deeper to get out of this rut."
Bettors shouldn’t expect a turnaround from this team until after the New Year. With Christmas just days away, Columbus isn’t thinking about hockey. Pick: Dallas St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames (-175, 5.5)
The Blues are taking Western Canada by storm.
St. Louis already knocked off the Canucks and Oilers on its current four-game road swing, which takes it to Calgary Wednesday night.
The Blues are coming off a 7-2 pounding of Edmonton in which six different players netted goals. They scored four of those goals on the power play, giving the team five goals on the man advantage in the last two games.
Before that game general manager Larry Pleau addressed the team about their inconsistent play this season. St. Louis is 6-4 in December and hasn’t been able to win more than two in a row this season.
"I've been here three years and that's the first time he's come in and addressed the team," captain Paul Kariya told the media. "Obviously we know the significance of that. He's not a man that says a lot and when he does talk, people listen."
That kick in the pants is working. The win over Edmonton was one of the best overall efforts from the Blues this season, giving them focus and momentum into the swift holiday break. St. Louis wraps this road trip in Minnesota on Boxing Day.
"We know we're a lot better team than (the way) we're playing right now, so it's a positive to be in the position we're in and that we can still make a run at it," Kariya said. Pick: St. Louis
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