Senators vs Blue Jackets Picks & Odds

With Columbus riding a four-game win streak and opening a season-long homestand, I lean to the Blue Jackets on the moneyline at -105 against a Senators squad that has dropped back-to-back overtime heartbreakers to Montreal and Detroit and is 4-4-2 in its last 10. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/cbj/columbus-blue-jackets)) Ottawa’s underlying profile remains high-event—top-10 in goals scored but bottom-three in goals against and penalty kill—while Columbus is more modest offensively yet still gets to nearly three goals per night with a strong shot volume and a league-average power play. ([sports.iheart.com](https://sports.iheart.com/content/2026-01-20-blue-jackets-vs-senators-time-tv-live-stream-1202026/)) In net, the Jackets have steadier goaltending from Jet Greaves (around a .907 save percentage and 2.7 goals against) while Ottawa remains without Linus Ullmark, who is out on personal/leave after an .880 start, leaving James Reimer and Leevi Meriläinen to cover a leaky defense. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/roster/_/name/ott/ottawa-senators)) Injuries tilt depth slightly toward Ottawa’s healthy forward group, as Columbus is still missing pieces like Miles Wood, Isac Lundestrom, Mason Marchment, Dante Fabbro and others, but Werenski (18-34–52) and red-hot Kirill Marchenko have driven this recent surge, and Werenski’s 21 career points in 20 games vs. Ottawa underscore how much damage he can do from the back end. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/injuries/_/name/cbj/columbus-blue-jackets)) Ottawa’s stars Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk have historically produced well against Columbus, but with the Jackets owning home-ice, better recent form (5-4-1 last 10, four straight wins) and more reliable goaltending in what both teams know is effectively a four-point swing game just outside the wild-card mix, I grade Columbus -105 as a **B+** pick: solid edge with acceptable price, but not elite value given their still-negative goal differential on the season. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401803133?utm_source=openai)) Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/01/2026 09:32

The total of 6.5 is lofty and the Over is heavily juiced at -143, but the matchup profile still leans offense: Ottawa games have gone over 6.5 in 26 of 48 and Columbus in 23 of 48, with the teams combining to allow about 6.7 goals per game and score roughly 6.2. ([bleachernation.com](https://www.bleachernation.com/picks/2026/01/20/blue-jackets-vs-senators-nhl-best-bets-odds-prediction-and-pick-jan-20/?utm_source=openai)) The Senators bring a top-10 offense (3.25 goals per game) with a top-tier power play around 24–25%, but pair it with the league’s worst penalty kill (roughly 71.5%) and bottom-three goals-against, while the Jackets add nearly three goals per night with a 20% power play and one of the league’s weakest penalty kills themselves in the mid-70s. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/ott/ottawa-senators)) Key shooters on both sides also trend well in this matchup: Tim Stützle has 7 goals in 13–14 career games vs. Columbus and Brady Tkachuk averages more than three shots per game against the Jackets, while Werenski and Adam Fantilli have combined for steady production in their careers vs. Ottawa, including Fantilli’s multi-point efforts and consistent shot volume. ([statmuse.com](https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/tim-stutzle-stats-vs-blue-jackets?utm_source=openai)) Recent form lines up with a track meet feel—Ottawa’s last three outings featured scorelines of 8-4, 6-5 and 4-3, and Columbus has scored at least four in each of its last three wins under Rick Bowness—suggesting pace and special-teams chances on both sides. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/ott/ottawa-senators)) At -143, the Over 6.5 doesn’t offer great price efficiency, but the blend of porous penalty killing, high recent scoring, and star forwards who historically produce in this matchup makes it more likely than not to cash; I grade Over 6.5 (-143) as a **B-**: strong likelihood of hitting but weighed down by steep juice. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/01/2026 09:32

Given how evenly matched these teams are on paper and in the standings, I prefer the safer angle of Columbus +1.5 at -220 on the puckline, banking on a tight contest where the home side can at least keep it within a goal. Both clubs sit on 51 points, have identical 22-19-7 records, and are clustered in the lower half of the East, turning this into a bubble game where the intensity usually compresses margins rather than creating blowouts. ([sports.iheart.com](https://sports.iheart.com/content/2026-01-20-blue-jackets-vs-senators-time-tv-live-stream-1202026/)) Ottawa is only 8-8-7 in one-goal games and has dropped consecutive overtime decisions heading in, while Columbus’ recent surge has featured a string of close wins—including 5-3, 4-1 and 4-3 results—backed by steadier goaltending and a renewed defensive structure under Bowness. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401803133?utm_source=openai)) Injuries erode some of Columbus’ depth (Dante Fabbro, Miles Wood, Mason Marchment, Isac Lundestrom and others), but they still roll a deep center spine with Adam Fantilli, Boone Jenner and Charlie Coyle, and they’ve already shown they can hang with Ottawa this season, splitting the first two meetings: a 6-3 loss in Columbus and a 4-1 rebound win in Ottawa. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/injuries/_/name/cbj/columbus-blue-jackets)) On the Senators’ side, their offensive ceiling with Stützle, Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson—plus strong historical production from Stützle and Tkachuk vs. Columbus—always leaves the door open for a multi-goal win, but shaky goaltending without Ullmark and a poor penalty kill make it just as likely that they trade goals in another one-score finish. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/injuries/_/name/ott/ottawa-senators)) Because -220 is a heavy price and offers limited standalone value, I grade Columbus +1.5 (-220) as a **B**: a high-probability leg that fits best in parlays or as a lower-risk exposure to a Jackets side I already like on the moneyline. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/01/2026 09:32