Vegas Golden Knights vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction 1/8/26 NHL Picks Today

The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Vegas Golden Knights meet Thursday in NHL action from T-Mobile Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vegas Golden Knights prediction.

Columbus Blue Jackets Recap

The Columbus Blue Jackets come into this game looking to rebound from a 5-2 loss at the hands of the San Jose Sharks last time out to sit at 18-17-7 this season. After this game, Columbus will head on the road for a game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Blue Jackets Drop Back-To-Back Games

Zach Werenski has 45 points with 16 goals and a team-high 29 assists while Dmitri Voronkov has 15 goals and 13 assists for his 28 points. Kirill Marchenko has 34 points with 15 goals and 19 assists and Charlie Coyle has 25 points with 19 assists. Adam Fantilli has 26 points with 12 goals and 14 assists of his own while Sean Monahan has 20 points with 6 goals and 14 assists. Jet Greaves has gone 12-11-6 with a 2.65 GAA and a .910 save percentage while Elvis Merzlikins has gone 6-6-1 with a 4.04 GAA and an .877 save percentage between the pipes for Columbus so far this season. 

Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win

• The underdogs have won each of the Blue Jackets’ last five games.
• The Golden Knights have lost each of their last four games as favorites.
• The Golden Knights have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last 12 games following a road win.
• The underdogs have covered the puck line in 14 of the Golden Knights’ last 15 games at T-Mobile Arena.

Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts

• Zach Werenski has scored at least one goal in each of his last four appearances in night games.
• Damon Severson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as underdogs.
• Kirill Marchenko ranks 1st in the league for shootout goals (5) this season.

Vegas Golden Knights Recap

The Vegas Golden Knights come into this game looking to add on to their 4-3 win over Winnipeg last time out to sit at 18-11-12 this season. After this game, Vegas will head home for a game against the St. Louis Blues.

Golden Knights Snap Five-Game Slide

Jack Eichel leads Vegas with 43 points coming on 12 goals and 31 assists. Mitch Marner has 42 points with 9 goals and 33 assists while Pavel Dorofeyev has 30 points with a team-high 16 goals and Ivan Barbashev has 30 points with 12 goals and 18 assists. Tomas Hertl’s added 32 points with 16 goals and 16 assists. Mark Stone also has 34 points with 13 goals and 21 assists. In goal for Vegas so far this season, Adin Hill is 1-0-2 with a 2.73 GAA and an .888 save percentage while Akira Schmid is 11-4-5 with a 2.52 GAA and an .894 save percentage this season. Carter Hart is also 5-3-3 with a 3.23 GAA and an .874 save percentage so far this season.

Why the Vegas Golden Knights will win

• The Golden Knights have won each of their last eight night games against opponents on a losing streak.
• The Blue Jackets have lost 13 of their last 16 road games against Pacific Division opponents.
• The Golden Knights have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 11 home games against opponents on a losing streak.
• The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six Thursday games.

Vegas Golden Knights Player Prop Facts

• Mark Stone has scored a goal in each of the Golden Knights’ last six games as favorites.
• Jack Eichel has recorded at least one assist in each of his last seven appearances in night games.
• Mark Stone has scored a goal in each of his last five appearances – longest active streak in the league.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Blue Jackets’ last six road games following a road loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Eight of the Golden Knights’ last nine home games against Metropolitan Division opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vegas Golden Knights Prediction

I’m on the Blue Jackets here. I get the case to be made for Vegas, but it feels like a lot of oddsmakers are still living in the past with Vegas, but the reality is this home ice edge is not what it has once been for the Golden Knights and I’m not willing to lay this price with Vegas just because. The Blue Jackets have been up and down themselves, but at this price I’m willing to take a shot with Columbus considering they’re not this much far off from where Vegas is. Give me the Blue Jackets and the plus money.