Predators vs Blue Jackets

Roman Josi has been carving up the Blue Jackets for years, but even with his history and Nashville’s new Stamkos–O’Reilly–Forsberg core in the lineup, the current form and context still tilt the Moneyline toward Columbus at home. The Predators come in off a stretch where they’ve taken points in most nights but still have just one win in their last three, and with Juuse Saros listed day-to-day and key depth like Erik Haula banged up, they’re walking a thin line in goal and down the lineup. Columbus, meanwhile, may be on a two-game skid after their seven-game heater, but that downturn came in tight games against Boston and the Islanders and doesn’t erase how hard they’ve been driving play behind an active blue line led by Zach Werenski and a deep center group of Adam Fantilli, Sean Monahan and Boone Jenner. Historically, Josi has piled up points against Columbus and Stamkos has hurt the Jackets going back to his Tampa days, but this version of Columbus is deeper, healthier and playing in front of a home crowd where their offense has recently blown out teams like Buffalo and Chicago, while Nashville is still trying to tread water in a brutal Central race. With both teams past the halfway mark and firmly in the playoff chase, Columbus’ combination of current form, health and home-ice edge makes laying the -138 Moneyline reasonable, but not without some respect for Nashville’s top-end talent; that balance of a strong but not overwhelming edge and modest payout lands this as a solid B-grade play. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/03/2026 09:51

Given the way these two offenses are trending and the goaltending questions on both sides, Over 6.5 at -105 has some appeal in what could easily become a track meet, especially if Nashville is still without Saros and leaning on Justus Annunen behind a defense that has been allowing well over three goals per game. Columbus just ripped off an 11–2 run fueled by Werenski driving offense from the back end and a forward group where Marchenko, Fantilli, Monahan and Jenner can all finish, and even in their recent losses they’ve generated plenty of chances, which is bad news for a Predators penalty kill that will be under stress on the road. On the other side, Nashville’s top six with Stamkos and Forsberg remains dangerous, and Josi’s history of feasting on Columbus suggests the Predators can contribute multiple goals of their own, particularly against a Blue Jackets goaltending tandem that has a middling save percentage and has given up its share of high-danger looks. With both clubs over the 41-game mark and staring at tight playoff races, there’s little incentive to sit back, and that urgency plus the combination of recent scoring form, potential backup goaltending and a Columbus team that has been involved in several multi-goal wins and losses nudges this toward a higher-event script. Still, 6.5 is a lofty total in today’s league and both teams can clamp down when protecting a lead, so the Over gets a B- grade: there’s reasonable value at the price, but variance around finishing and special-teams whistles keeps it from being more than a moderate-confidence position. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/03/2026 09:51

For the puckline, Columbus -1.5 at 170 is the higher-risk, higher-reward angle that hinges on the Jackets’ ability to tilt the ice and finish their chances the way they did during their recent seven-game winning streak, when multi-goal victories over teams like the Sabres and Blackhawks were common. Nashville’s profile this season has skewed toward close games, but with a leaky defensive record, potential uncertainty in net if Saros isn’t fully healthy, and heavy minutes being asked of Josi to drive everything from breakouts to the power play, they’re vulnerable to score effects if they fall behind and have to open up. Columbus, by contrast, is relatively healthy per the latest reports, and their depth scoring plus an improved penalty kill since the calendar flipped has allowed them to stretch leads when they get on top, particularly at Nationwide Arena where the Fantilli–Marchenko–Jenner group can exploit last change. The playoff context matters here too: with Columbus jockeying not just for a berth but for seeding, they’re less likely to sit back on a one-goal cushion late, increasing the chance of either an insurance marker or an empty-netter that turns a tight contest into a puckline cover. Because this bet needs a specific game script—Columbus playing from ahead, Nashville’s offense stalling late, and the bounce of empty-net and special-teams luck—the probability is meaningfully lower than the straight Moneyline but the payoff is significantly better, so it earns a C+ grade: worth a smaller, more speculative stake for those chasing plus-money upside, but not a core position. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/03/2026 09:51