Jan 24, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA;  Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) looks at the puck as he faces off with Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction 3/10/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

Pick details

MATCHUP Columbus Blue Jackets Tampa Bay Lightning
Team Records 32-21-10 39-19-4
Spread +1.5 -120 -1.5 100
Moneyline +195 -238
Total Over 6.5 (-112) Under 6.5 (-108)
Where Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
When Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Time 07:00 PM EDT
TV ESPN+

In this article, we will formulate a Blue Jackets vs Lightning Prediction for this NHL game on Tuesday, March 10th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Tampa Bay Lightning Preview

The Lightning have 82 points this season with a 39-19-4 record, and are 33-29 ATS and 31-28 in over/under. They have a 19-10-0 home record and a 20-9-4 road record and are sitting 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are coming off a 8-7 road loss to the Sabres, and their previous three games were a 5-2 road win over the Maple Leafs, a 4-1 road loss to the Jets, and a 5-1 road loss to the Wild.

Offensively, the Lightning are averaging 3.53 goals per game and are scoring 22.2% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.74 goals per game and are killing 82.0% of their opponent’s power plays.

Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 103 points and 34 goals, adding a team-high 69 assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy is the starting goalie for the Lightning, and he has a 29-10-3 record, with 2.28 GAA and .914 SV%. Jonas Johansson is the backup goalie and he has a 10-9-1 record, with 3.23 GAA and .884 SV%.

Columbus Blue Jackets Preview

The Blue Jackets have 74 points this season with a 32-21-10 record, and are 32-31 ATS and 30-29 in over/under. They have a 17-8-7 home record and a 15-13-3 road record and are sitting 4th in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 5-4 home overtime loss to the Kings, and their previous three games were a 5-4 home overtime loss to the Mammoth, a 4-2 home win over the Panthers, and a 3-2 home win over the Predators.

Offensively, the Blue Jackets are averaging 3.16 goals per game and are scoring 19.7% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.21 goals per game and are killing 77.6% of their opponent’s power plays.

Zach Werenski leads the Blue Jackets with 66 points and 20 goals, adding a team-high 46 assists. Jet Greaves is the starting goalie for the Blue Jackets, and he has a 20-12-8 record, with 2.69 GAA and .907 SV%. Elvis Merzlikins is the backup goalie and he has a 12-9-2 record, with 3.53 GAA and .884 SV%.

Columbus Blue Jackets @ Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Trends: March 10, 2026

Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win

  • The Lightning have won each of their last nine home games against the Blue Jackets.
  • The Blue Jackets have lost 12 of their last 15 games at Benchmark International Arena.
  • The Lightning have covered the puck line in each of their last eight games against the Blue Jackets following a road loss.
  • The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games at Benchmark International Arena.
  • The Lightning have won the first period in seven of their last eight games against the Blue Jackets following a road loss.

Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win

  • The Lightning have lost four of their last five games as favorites.
  • The Blue Jackets have won each of their last three games as an underdog when playing with a rest disadvantage.
  • The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Blue Jackets’ last six games.
  • The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight night games at Benchmark International Arena against opponents on a losing streak.
  • The Lightning have lost the first period in five of their last six games as home favorites following a road loss.

Total Goals Facts

  • Eight of the Lightning’s last nine games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
  • Each of the Blue Jackets’ last four night games at Benchmark International Arena have gone OVER the total goals line.
  • The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Lightning’s last nine games as favorites against the Blue Jackets.
  • The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in eight of the Blue Jackets’ last nine road games.

Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts

  • Jake Guentzel has scored at least one goal in each of the Lightning’s last six Tuesday home games.
  • Jake Guentzel has recorded an assist in each of his last seven appearances against the Blue Jackets.
  • Nikita Kucherov ranks T1st in the league for multi-assist games (20) this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts

  • Kirill Marchenko has scored at least one goal in each of his last four road appearances against Eastern Conference opponents.
  • Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in each of his last six appearances in road games.
  • Zach Werenski has recorded at least two shots in each of his last 17 appearances – equal-longest active streak in the league.

Matchup/League Facts

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of only two teams in the league to rank top 5 for both goals for and goals against per game this season.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 3rd in the league for goals against per game this season (2.74).
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets rank T2nd in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (2).
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 31st in the league for Period 3 goals allowed per game this season (1.29).

Blue Jackets vs Lightning Prediction

The Blue Jackets have won both previous meetings against the Lightning this season, both at home by 8-5 and 3-2, but the Lightning are 6-2 in their 8 meetings before that.

In this Blue Jackets vs Lightning Prediction, the Lightning are coming as -250 home favorites. The Lightning have been the better team this season and are catching the Blue Jackets in the second leg of a back-to-back, after an overtime thriller yesterday against LA. But the Lightning are perhaps on their worst stretch of the season, as they are 1-5 in their last 6 games, so I am not willing to back them as such big favorites today. Since I expect this one to be a close call, I will take the Blue Jackets by +1.5 goals in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5

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