| MATCHUP | Columbus Blue Jackets | Montreal Canadiens |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 38-22-11 | 39-21-10 |
| Spread | +1.5 -250 | -1.5 205 |
| Moneyline | +102 | -122 |
| Total | Over 6.5 (-115) | Under 6.5 (-105) |
| Where | Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | |
| When | Thursday, March 26, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Montreal Canadiens Preview
The Canadiens have 88 points this season with a 39-21-10 record, and are 41-29 ATS and 41-27 in over/under. They have a 21-13-2 home record and a 18-8-8 road record and are sitting 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They are coming off a 5-2 home win over the Hurricanes, and their previous three games were a 7-3 home win over the Islanders, a 3-1 road loss to the Red Wings, and a 3-2 home overtime win over the Bruins.
Offensively, the Canadiens are averaging 3.53 goals per game and are scoring 25% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.21 goals per game and are killing 76.3% of their opponent’s power plays.
Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens with 86 points and 24 goals, adding a team-high 62 assists. Jakub Dobes is the starting goalie for the Canadiens, and he has a 23-8-4 record, with 2.88 GAA and .896 SV%. Samuel Montembeault is the backup goalie and he has a 10-8-4 record, with 3.43 GAA and .872 SV%.
Columbus Blue Jackets Preview
The Blue Jackets have 87 points this season with a 38-22-11 record, and are 37-34 ATS and 33-34 in over/under. They have a 20-8-7 home record and a 18-14-4 road record and are sitting 2nd in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 3-2 road win over the Flyers, and their previous three games were a 1-0 road loss to the Islanders, a 5-2 home win over the Kraken, and a 6-3 home win over the Rangers.
Offensively, the Blue Jackets are averaging 3.17 goals per game and are scoring 20.1% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.04 goals per game and are killing 77.9% of their opponent’s power plays.
Zach Werenski leads the Blue Jackets with 77 points and 21 goals, adding a team-high 56 assists. Jet Greaves is the starting goalie for the Blue Jackets, and he has a 24-13-8 record, with 2.57 GAA and .910 SV%. Elvis Merzlikins is the backup goalie and he has a 14-9-3 record, with 3.35 GAA and .885 SV%.
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Montreal Canadiens Betting Trends: March 26, 2026
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Blue Jackets have lost seven of their last eight night games at Bell Centre.
- The Canadiens have won each of their last five home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the Blue Jackets’ last seven games.
- The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four road games.
- The Canadiens have won the second period in each of their last eight games when trailing after the first period.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The Canadiens have lost each of their last four games as favorites following a home win.
- The Blue Jackets have won four of their last five games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in 11 of their last 12 games as favorites following a home win.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in 21 of the Canadiens’ last 24 games.
- The Canadiens have lost the third period in each of their last six home games against Eastern Conference opponents when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Seven of the Blue Jackets’ last eight road games against opponents on a winning streak have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Canadiens’ last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Eight of the last nine Thursday night games between teams from the same conference have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 16 of the Canadiens’ last 18 home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Cole Caufield has scored at least one goal in eight of the Canadiens’ last nine games as home favorites.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last five games.
- Cole Caufield ranks 2nd in the league for Goals (44) this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts
- Kirill Marchenko has scored a goal in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as road underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in nine of his last 10 appearances with the Blue Jackets as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Mason Marchment has recorded two blocks against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 3rd in the league for goals per game this season (3.53).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank T3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (25.00%).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank T3rd in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (3).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of only four teams to lose 18+ games when tied or leading after Period 2 this season.
Blue Jackets vs Canadiens Prediction
The Blue Jackets won their previous meeting against the Canadiens this season by 4-3 at home in a shootout, but the Canadiens are 7-1 in their 8 meetings before that.
In this Blue Jackets vs Canadiens Prediction, the Canadiens are coming as -117 home favorites. Both teams are fighting for a better playoff placement in the Eastern Conference and both are in good form, with a 5-1 and 3-1 record in their last 6 and 4 games respectively. I cannot pick a side here, but I like the over. The Canadiens have scored 12 goals in their last two games and the Blue Jackets have scored 5+ goals in three of their last five games. Both teams average 6.7 goals per game combined this season and their last three head-to-head matches have gone over the total. Take the over 6.5 in this one.