| MATCHUP | Tampa Bay Lightning | Columbus Blue Jackets |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 32-13-4 | 23-20-7 |
| Spread | -1.5 195 | +1.5 -238 |
| Moneyline | -122 | +102 |
| Total | Over 6.5 (102) | Under 6.5 (-122) |
| Where | Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH | |
| When | Saturday, January 24, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Blackhawks and Sharks, and they play the Mammoth next. The Lightning have won 14 of their last 15 games.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.5 goals per game and are scoring on 20.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Brandon Hagel leads Tampa Bay with 25 goals, Nikita Kucherov has 49 assists, and Jake Guentzel has 128 shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 2.48 goals per game and are killing 84.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed 67 goals on 795 shots faced, while Jonas Johansson has given up 47 goals on 454 shots.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Stars, lost to the Senators, and play the Kings next. The Blue Jackets have won 5 of their last 6 games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.9 goals per game and are scoring on 19.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Zach Werenski leads Columbus with 19 goals, Kirill Marchenko has 23 assists and Adam Fantilli has 137 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.26 goals per game and are killing 75.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jet Greaves has allowed 88 goals on 983 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 64 goals on 542 shots.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The home team has won each of the last five games between the Lightning and Blue Jackets.
- The Lightning have lost each of their last four games at Nationwide Arena after coming off overtime.
- The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in 11 of their last 12 games as home underdogs against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four road games following a shootout win.
- The Lightning have lost the third period in three of their last four games at Nationwide Arena when trailing after the second period.
Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win
- The Lightning have won each of their last six games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
- The Blue Jackets have lost three of their last four games when playing with a rest advantage.
- The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last nine games at Nationwide Arena when playing with a rest advantage.
- The Lightning have covered the puck line in five of their last six games against the Blue Jackets.
- The Blue Jackets have lost the third period in each of their last four games as home underdogs when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Lightning’s last four road games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Four of the last five games between the Lightning and Blue Jackets have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in six of the Lightning’s last seven games after coming off overtime.
Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts
- Zach Werenski has scored at least one goal in five of his last six appearances in night games at Nationwide Arena.
- Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games against the Lightning at Nationwide Arena.
- Mathieu Olivier has recorded four blocks against the Lightning this season – most against any opponent.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in seven of his last eight appearances against the Blue Jackets.
- Brayden Point has scored at least one goal in four of his last five appearances in road games.
- Nikita Kucherov ranks T2nd in the league for multi-assist games (14) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 32nd in the league for Period 3 goals allowed per game this season (1.34).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 31st in the league for shots against per game this season (30.7).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 2nd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (84.52%).
- 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.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction
The Lightning are on the end of a back to back, but it probably doesn’t matter. We’ve been backing the Lightning blindly during this winning stretch, and it hasn’t let us down yet. The Lightning are playing elite hockey on both sides of the ice. The Blue Jackets are enjoying a nice couple of weeks and have picked things up defensively, but I’m just not stepping in front of the Lightning in their current form. I’ll ride the hot hand until it runs cold.