How much can Columbus do in a loss? Against Dallas on Saturday, one Blue Jackets goal was enough for Kent Johnson to pick up an assist. Matthew Knies finished without a point.
DraftKings listed Colorado at −130. If you’re backing the Avalanche, these two props ask you to weigh a quiet night from Knies against a more specific outcome for Johnson: no assists.
Two ways to limit Columbus scoring
Knies has 12 Columbus appearances to assess. Johnson’s record covers 88 games across this season and last. The table compares Blue Jackets losses with the full same-club record for each player.
| Player & prop | Odds | With this result | All games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Knies Under 0.5 points All 12 Columbus appearances |
+100 | 85.7% (6/7) Blue Jackets losses |
75.0% (9/12) |
| Kent Johnson Under 0.5 assists 2025–26 and 2026–27 Columbus appearances |
−225 | 86.7% (39/45) Blue Jackets losses |
79.5% (70/88) |
Matthew Knies under 0.5 points (+100)
Knies went without a point in six of seven Columbus losses and nine of 12 appearances overall. That’s his entire Blue Jackets sample. His lone point in a Columbus loss was an assist against Utah, when the Blue Jackets scored just once.
He’s projected on the top line with Adam Fantilli and Johnson. He scored twice and added an assist in the win over Buffalo. That game illustrates the difference between this offer and the no-assist market. Any goal beats the points under, while an assist under can survive a goal.
DraftKings offered the assist under at −200, compared with +100 for no point. Both targets have the same record in his 12 Columbus games because his goals in that sample came with an assist. Those games are a small basis for judging whether the extra room for a goal is worth paying for.
Kent Johnson under 0.5 assists (−225)
Johnson finished without an assist in 39 of 45 Columbus losses and 70 of 88 appearances overall. He’s gone without one in six of seven losses and eight of 12 games overall this season. His goal in the loss to Carolina would have left the assist under intact.
Dallas was the exception this season. Johnson had an assist in 19:18 against Dallas, his only one in a loss this season. He also picked up two assists in the win over Vegas and one to go with two goals against Philadelphia. Even a low-scoring Columbus game can give him the one setup that beats the line.
At −225, the offer asks a higher price than Knies’s points under. It gives Johnson room to score, and the loss record covers substantially more games. If you expect that line to get chances, ask how comfortable you are paying −225 for Johnson to go without setting up a goal.
Choose the scoring contribution you want to limit
Knies at even money asks him to finish without a point. Johnson’s under allows a goal and relies on a longer Columbus record. They’re projected linemates, so a Johnson assist on a Knies goal could beat both at once. The prices above are for the individual markets.
Follow the live Avalanche–Blue Jackets matchup for updates or browse the NHL article archive for more hockey coverage.
More picks to build around
Unlock our Premium picks. Free.
Get our sharpest picks, team grades, and projected score in your inbox.