Canucks vs Blue Jackets

Zach Werenski’s two-way heater and the Blue Jackets’ modest surge under new coach Rick Bowness collide with a Canucks group limping into Columbus on the final stop of a six-game road swing and riding an eight-game losing streak overall, including seven straight on this trip.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/van)) Vancouver’s depth chart is badly thinned: Thatcher Demko headlines a long injury list that also includes Marco Rossi, Filip Chytil, Teddy Blueger, Derek Forbort and a banged‑up Kiefer Sherwood, while Columbus is still without captain Boone Jenner down the middle.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/injuries/_/name/van)) Even with historical matchup edges from Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Evander Kane and Jake DeBrusk against Columbus, Vancouver brings a bottom‑tier offense and league‑worst goal differential into a building where the Blue Jackets have won five straight versus the Canucks, and where Werenski, Adam Fantilli and Charlie Coyle are driving a roughly league‑average attack that still outpaces Vancouver’s.([nhl.com](https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/game-notes-canucks-vs-blue-jackets-110825?utm_source=openai)) With Columbus sitting closer to the Eastern wild‑card mix than Vancouver is in the West and getting a short‑term emotional bump from the coaching change, I’m comfortable laying the chalk on Blue Jackets -175 on the moneyline, though the juice caps it at a solid-but-not-elite B grade given you’re risking 175 to win 100 on a team that still has defensive warts. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 15/01/2026 09:33.([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/nhl/blue-jackets-vs-canucks-prediction-odds-picks-jan-15))

The total is set at 6.5, and while both teams have ugly goals‑against numbers (Columbus around 3.4 GA/G, Vancouver about 3.6 GA/G) with mediocre offenses (roughly 3.0 and 2.6 goals for per game respectively), their combined scoring profile of about 5.6 goals per night suggests the number bakes in a premium for chaos.([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/nhl/blue-jackets-vs-canucks-prediction-odds-picks-jan-15)) Vancouver’s attack is further hampered by injuries to multiple middle‑six forwards and its No. 1 goalie Demko, nudging them toward a more conservative road script in front of backups, while Bowness’ arrival in Columbus typically means tighter structure even if his debut 5‑3 win over Calgary hasn’t fully reflected that yet.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/injuries/_/name/van)) Recent trend-wise, despite the Canucks being 25‑19‑2 to the over on the season, totals have dipped under in four of their last six, and market data shows this 6.5 slightly shaded to the under at around -112, reflecting respect for travel fatigue and the risk of a lower‑event game from a desperate but tired road team.([oddsshark.com](https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/vancouver-columbus-odds-january-15-2026-2474334?utm_source=openai)) I’ll side with Under 6.5 (-112) for a B- grade—there’s reasonable edge if Vancouver’s legs are gone and Bowness keeps Columbus in a more disciplined shell, but the shaky defending on both sides keeps this from being higher conviction. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 15/01/2026 09:33.([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/nhl/blue-jackets-vs-canucks-prediction-odds-picks-jan-15))

Columbus is the rightful home favorite, but with a modest -19 goal differential versus Vancouver’s -44 and both teams sitting almost dead‑even against the spread (Blue Jackets 23‑23 ATS, Canucks 20‑26 ATS with Vancouver actually slightly positive ATS on the road), this sets up as a spot where backing the dog to “lose close” has appeal.([oddsshark.com](https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/vancouver-columbus-odds-january-15-2026-2474334?utm_source=openai)) The Jackets have tightened up just enough under Bowness to win, yet many of their games remain one‑goal decisions, and while Columbus has dominated the matchup at Nationwide with five straight home wins over Vancouver, several of those have been by a single goal, aligning nicely with a +1.5 puckline position.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/cls)) Vancouver’s injury‑ravaged lineup still rolls out top‑end talent like Pettersson, Brock Boeser and DeBrusk—players who historically produce well against the Jackets—and in the last leg of a draining trip they are more likely to simplify and grind for a low‑event, one‑goal game than to completely unravel, even with sub‑Demko goaltending.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/roster/_/name/van)) At -162, Canucks +1.5 on the puckline earns only a C+ grade because the vig is steep and Vancouver’s defensive issues create some blowout risk, but with a Columbus moneyline lean and an expectation of a tight scoreline around 3‑2, the contrarian “favorite wins, dog covers” angle has just enough value to consider. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 15/01/2026 09:33.([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/nhl/blue-jackets-vs-canucks-prediction-odds-picks-jan-15))