Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction, NHL Odds
The Columbus Blue Jackets hit the road for a quick road trip as they take on the Ottawa Senators.
How will the second installment play out? Only time will tell. To get you ready for what should be a spirited battle in the NHL, I have provided my Blue Jackets vs. Senators preview and prediction.
Blue Jackets vs. Senators NHL Betting Odds
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators play three times per season. Ottawa has dominated Columbus as of late, winning five of the last six meetings dating back to February 2024. Against the spread (ATS), Columbus is 19-18 this season while Ottawa is 16-21. In the game totals, Columbus is also 18-17-2 to the Over, while Ottawa is 22-15.
Leading the way in goal-scoring odds for the Senators are Brady Tkachuk (+125) and Tim Stutzle (+150). For the Blue Jackets, the odds favour Kirill Marchenko (+230) and Adam Fantilli (+240).
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a frustrating season. They have shown flashes of brilliance, but overall, their major inconsistency has given them a poor record of 16-15-6 which has them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. They’ve come out of the Christmas break with a nice win over an impressive New York Islanders team, and they’ve won two straight games overall (both two-goal wins). However, as they hit the road, I think they will need a lot for this to continue.
Star defenceman Zach Werenski has missed the last two games for Columbus, and his availability is questionable. While the team has many great young talents, he is the heart and soul of the team.
Ottawa Senators
If you were to ask the Ottawa Senators, they would say they have mightily underperformed so far this season. At 18-14-5, they are sixth in the Atlantic Division, which is not where they want to be as they look for momentum after a playoff appearance last season.
They are coming off a hectic 7-5 loss to a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs team, and will be looking to tidy things up in this one. In this matchup, I believe they have a far deeper team with more experience and lots of skill, so unless they shoot themselves in the foot, the game presents a great opportunity.
Starting goaltender Linus Ullmark has left the team due to personal reasons, and without a timeline for his return, it is a concern. However, this now presents a great opportunity for young backup Leevi Merilainen to feed off of a decent relief performance in their last game.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Blue Jackets vs. Senators?
We can assume both teams have aspirations for the playoffs, meaning this win is important. Combining for a mediocre 34-29-11, there is a lot of work for both to do, and I expect a top effort from both.
On home ice, eager to clean the slate after giving up seven goals in a loss, I expect Ottawa to take it. They have a longer list of elite players on their team, which should lead them in what could be a tight finish. I expect the Ottawa Senators to win 4-2.
CLB
OTT