Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets NHL Predictions

2024-12-31 • Nationwide Arena

Columbus Blue Jackets 4 - 3 Carolina Hurricanes

🚨 Upset Win (65% underdog)

Win Probability

CBJ: 35.2%

CAR: 64.8%

Expected Goals

CBJ: 2.54

CAR: 3.29

Total Goals

Median: 5.6

Over 5.5: 51%

Over 6.5: 39%

CBJ

Elvis Merzlikins - 6-6-1 | 0.877 SV% | 4.04 GAA

CAR

Pyotr Kochetkov - 6-2-0 | 0.899 SV% | 2.33 GAA

Last 5 / vs opponent shown when available in goalie stats. Confirmed goalie row used when available; otherwise current projected starter is shown.

Team	Goalie	SA	Saves	GA	SV%	xGA	HD Faced	GSAx
CBJ	Elvis Merzlikins	38	34	4	89.5%	3.91	3	-0.09
CAR	Pyotr Kochetkov	31	26	5	83.9%	3.96	3	-1.04

SA uses shots on goal plus goals. xGA, high-danger faced, and GSAx use modeled scoring attempts against. GSAx is xGA minus goals against.

Model accuracy in this matchup: 67% • CBJ at home vs CAR: 4-2

Date	Score	Winner	Model Pick
2026-04-02	CAR 5 - 1 CBJ	CAR	CAR
2026-03-31	CBJ 2 - 5 CAR	CAR	CAR
2026-03-17	CBJ 5 - 1 CAR	CBJ	CAR
2025-12-09	CAR 4 - 1 CBJ	CAR	CAR
2025-01-23	CAR 7 - 4 CBJ	CAR	CAR

Period	Team	Shots	High Danger	xG
1	CBJ	14	1	0.67
1	CAR	23	0	1.22
2	CBJ	10	0	0.64
2	CAR	16	1	1.39
3	CBJ	10	0	0.42
3	CAR	11	1	0.44
4	CBJ	5	0	0.33
4	CAR	3	0	0.26
5	CBJ	4	2	1.91
5	CAR	4	1	0.60

Shots are modeled attempts: shots on goal, goals, and missed shots. Blocked shots are excluded. High danger is xG >= 0.20.

Prediction Result

❌ Incorrect

Confidence: 64.8%

Total Goals

Actual: 7.0

Expected: 5.8

Score Breakdown

Columbus Blue Jackets 4 - 3 Carolina Hurricanes

Expected: 2.5 - 3.3