What: Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets NHL Picks And Best Bets
When: Thursday, December 12, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
The Thursday Vegas NHL picks are showing the Washington Capitals as away favorites at the Columbus Jackets, adding another layer to a surprising start to the season for the Capitals.
Not given much of a chance at the outset of the 2024-25 NHL campaign, Washington has instead been challenging for first overall in the NHL standings. Even after losing captain and top scorer Alex Ovechkin to a broken leg, the Caps have just kept on rolling.
Washington is rolling into Columbus as -153 road favorites. The Capitals are 5-0 straight up in their last five visits to the Ohio capital.
Let’s look at the latest betting line for this Capitals vs Blue Jackets game in the NHL picks. Remember, odds are always subject to change.
 | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Capitals | -1.5 (+160) | -153 | O 6.5 (-116) |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +1.5 (-180) | +186 | U 6.5 (+100) |
This contest is among 14 games on a very busy Thursday NHL schedule. We’ve checked the current NHL odds and selected the Washington Capitals vs the Columbus Blue Jackets as being one of the best bets worth taking in the NHL picks. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right into our betting prediction.
When checking the NHL betting lines at any of the leading Vegas sports betting sites, not only wouldn’t you find the Capitals among the top contenders in the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup odds, most sites were projecting Washington to miss the playoffs. Columbus was also considered to be an outsider to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Yes, the Capitals are 4-0 SU in the last four games against the Blue Jackets and 8-1 through the past nine meetings. However, they are a dismal 1-6 against the puck line over the last seven games between the two teams. At Columbus, the Capitals are indeed 5-0 SU in the last five visits. But Washington is just 2-3 against the puck line in those five wins.
The Capitals are 6-1 SU in the last seven games. They are 10-0 SU in their past 10 road games. The Blue Jackets are 1-4 SU in their last five games. However, in the NHL picks they are 4-2 SU in the last six games against Metropolitan Division rivals.
Seven of the last 10 games between Washington and Columbus have gone over. Eight of Washington’s last 12 games played within the Metropolitan Division have also gone over. Eight of the last 10 games played by Columbus also hit on the over. The over was also the winning play in each of the last seven home games played by the Blue Jackets.
Washington is 7-3-2 SU as a betting favorite. The Capitals are 11-2 against the puck line on the road. Columbus is 10-13-1 SU as the underdog in the betting line. The Blue Jackets are 9-4 against the puck line on home ice.
Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record was certainly fueling passion in Washington this season. However, any thought that the Capitals (19-6-2) would be going off the rails once their captain broke his leg have been refuted. Washington is 6-3 SU without Ovechkin.
Washington rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2 Saturday at Montreal. That was extending the team’s club-record road winning streak to 10 games. Tom Wilson scored twice in that game and has 5-4-9 totals through the past 10 games. He took a puck to the face in that game but is expected to play on Thursday despite a broken sinus bone.
Overall, the Capitals are 7-2-1 in the past 10 games. Forward Dylan Strome shows 9-26-35 totals on the season. Washington is 7-4 facing Metropolitan Division opposition this season.
At 12-13-3, the Blue Jackets are also exceeding expectations so far this season. Most hockey pundits were projecting Columbus to be a top contender to win the NHL Draft Lottery.
The Blue Jackets are 5-4-1 in the past 10 games. Of late, though, they are sliding. Columbus has lost four of the past five games.
Columbus has allowed a power-play goal in 14 consecutive games. Staying out of the penalty box is important for the Blue Jackets. Columbus is 5-2-1 when serving fewer penalty minutes than an opponent.
Forward Sean Monahan has 3-10-13 totals in the past 13 games. Cole Sillinger shows 1-7-8 numbers in the last 10 games. Defenseman Zach Werenski is accounting for 9-20-29 totals this season.
Overall, Washington is 11-2 SU on the road this season. The Capitals have already whipped the Blue Jackets 7-2 earlier in the season. Wilson also scored two goals in that game.
Depth is the key for the Capitals. Fourteen different Washington players have scored a goal during Ovechkin’s absence. Take the Capitals to beat the Blue Jackets in the Thursday Vegas NHL picks.
