The Winnipeg Jets will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to face the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nationwide Arena, with the game scheduled to start at 6:00 PM ET on Sunday evening and will air on Bally Sports Ohio.

Connor Hellebuyck has been one of the top starting goalies this season in the NHL and enters this game tied for 4^th in the NHL in wins with 30 while leading the league in goals allowed and save percentage with an average of 2.33 goals allowed per game and a .921 save percentage. Hellebuyck’s play this season has made the Winnipeg Jets one of the best teams in the NHL, as they enter this game with the 4^th best record in the Western Conference at 42-19-5 and 89 points. 

The Jets have also recorded three shutouts in their previous five games following Friday’s 6-0 shutout win against the Anaheim Ducks. Winnipeg’s defensive efficiency has played a pivotal role in their success this season as they are allowing the fewest goals per game in the league with an average of 2.38 goals allowed per game. The Jets have faced the Blue Jackets one other time this season and dominated the matchup with a 5-0 win at home, one of Connor Helleybuyck’s four shutout wins this season. 

When the Jets face off in Columbus, they will look to improve their record to 2-0 against the Blue Jackets this season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have struggled this season and have one of the worst records in the NHL, at 23-33-11 and 57 points. This gives them the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the fourth-worst record in the league. Columbus finally ended their three-game losing streak on Saturday. However, the win came against the team with the worst record in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks, at home by a score of 4-2. 

The struggles for the Blue Jackets this season can be attributed to the struggles they have had from inconsistent play of their goalies as they are allowing the 3^rd most goals per game in the league with an average of 3.61 goals allowed per game, however, despite losing three of their last five games, the Blue Jackets have played better defensively and have gotten better play from their goalies as they have allowed an average of 2.4 goals per game over their last five matchups. Columbus lost the earlier season matchup against Winnipeg on the road by a score of 0-5, and the Blue Jackets have been shutout in four games this season, with the most recent shutout coming on the road against the Montreal Canadiens. 

The Blue Jackets will host Winnipeg on Sunday evening, looking to avenge their loss against the Jets earlier this season.

WagerWeb lists the Winnipeg Jets as -260 moneyline favorites on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday evening. Winnipeg won the only other meeting this season with a 5-0 shutout win at home. However, the Jets had lost the previous two meetings against the Blue Jackets heading into that contest and have lost three straight on the road against Columbus in the series.

Columbus has had much success at home against Winnipeg over the last five meetings in the series, winning four of the last five at home against the Jets and two of the previous three meetings. However, Winnipeg dominated the earlier season matchup by a score of 5-0 at home, and I look for the Jets to get the win. Still, with the success the Blue Jackets have had at home against the Jets, I will be taking the puck line for Columbus at +1.5 when they face Winnipeg on Sunday evening.