Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus Blue Jackets) Over 23.5 Saves (-125)
Odds available at draftkings at time of publishing
Betting on Elvis Merzlikins to make over 23.5 saves is a statistically sound choice, considering his recent performance and the predictive model's output. His last five home games have seen an average of 25.6 saves, already above the line set by the bookmaker. This is reinforced by the model's prediction of 25.71 saves for the upcoming game, further indicating that he is likely to exceed the 23.5 saves threshold. Additionally, Merzlikins' overall save average in the last five games is 22.8, just below the line, but his recent hit rates suggest a trending improvement. He has hit the Over in 7 of his last 8 games overall and in 9 of his last 11 home games, showing a strong propensity for high save numbers. Given these statistics, it's reasonable to bet on Merzlikins surpassing 23.5 saves in the upcoming game.