Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction 1/8/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Vegas Golden Knights meet Thursday in NHL action at the T-Mobile Arena. Here’s a Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction. This article will include a Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights Pick.

Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Penguins and Sharks, and play the Avalanche next. The Blue Jackets have lost 3 of their last 4 games.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.98 goals per game and are scoring on 17.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Zach Werenski leads Columbus with 16 goals, Charlie Coyle has 19 assists and Adam Fantilli has 116 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.36 goals per game and are killing 76 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jet Greaves has allowed 77 goals on 857 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 54 goals on 440 shots.

Vegas Golden Knights Betting Preview

The Vegas Golden Knights lost to the Blackhawks, beat the Jets, and they play the Blues next. The Golden Knights have lost 8 of their last 10 games.

The Vegas Golden Knights are averaging 3.1 goals per game and are scoring on5.2224.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Pavel Dorofeyev leads Vegas with 16 goals, Mitch Marner has 33 assists and Jack Eichel has 124 shots on goal. Defensively, the Vegas Golden Knights are allowing 3.02 goals per game and are killing 81.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Carter Hart has given up 35 goals on 278 shots faced, while Akira Schmid has allowed 51 goals on 479 shots.

Why the Vegas Golden Knights will win

• The Golden Knights have won 12 of their last 13 night games against opponents on a losing streak.
• The Blue Jackets have lost each of their last eight Thursday games as underdogs.
• The Golden Knights have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 11 games at T-Mobile Arena against opponents on a losing streak.
• The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six Thursday night games.
• The Golden Knights have won the third period in each of their last five games against Metropolitan Division opponents when trailing after the second period.

Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win

• The underdogs have won each of the Golden Knights’ last five games.
• The Golden Knights have lost six of their last seven games as favorites.
• The Golden Knights have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last 11 night games following a road win.
• The underdogs have covered the puck line in 13 of the Golden Knights’ last 14 games.
• The underdogs have won the third period in six of the Blue Jackets’ last seven games.

Total Goals Facts

• Eight of the Golden Knights’ last nine night games against Metropolitan Division opponents at T-Mobile Arena have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Each of the Blue Jackets’ last five games as road underdogs following a road loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Golden Knights’ last six games as favorites.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in three of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as underdogs.

Vegas Golden Knights Player Prop Facts

• Mark Stone has scored a goal in each of the Golden Knights’ last five games.
• Jack Eichel has recorded at least one assist in each of the Golden Knights’ last eight Thursday games.

Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts

• Zach Werenski has scored at least one goal in five of his last six appearances.
• Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in six of his last seven appearances against the Golden Knights.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Vegas Golden Knights rank 2nd in the league for shots against per game this season (24.9).
• The Vegas Golden Knights rank T3rd in the league for power play goals against this season (18).
• The Columbus Blue Jackets have suffered the equal-most losses when tied or leading after Period 1 this season (17).
• The Columbus Blue Jackets have suffered the most losses when tied or leading after Period 2 this season (14).

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction

The Golden Knights should get the benefit of the doubt at home, and they’ve won 5 of the last 7 games against the Blue Jackets. However, this line is thick for a Vegas side that’s been riding the struggle bus over the last couple of weeks. The Blue Jackets aren’t world beaters and have a gang of bad losses, but we’re also not being asked to lay these inflated prices. Only the Jets have lost bettors more money than Vegas this season. I’ll take a shot in the dark and side with the Blue Jackets.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets