Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction for 1/24

bangthebook nhl game preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning will visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The game is set for Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Fans can watch the action live on ESPN+.

The Lightning, led by head coach Jon Cooper, have a strong record of 32-13-4. They are first in both the Eastern Atlantic Division and conference rankings. The Blue Jackets, coached by Rick Bowness, have a 23-20-7 record and sit at the bottom of the Eastern Metropolitan Division.

Lightning vs Blue Jackets Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Venue: Nationwide Arena
  • Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
  • Betting Odds:
    • Tampa Bay Lightning Puck Line: -1.5 (+188)
    • Columbus Blue Jackets Puck Line: +1.5 (-233)
    • Tampa Bay Lightning MoneyLine: -126
    • Columbus Blue Jackets MoneyLine: +107
    • Over: 6.5 (-109)
    • Under: 6.5 (-113)

Tampa Bay Lightning Team Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been doing well in recent games. They won four out of their last five games. Their most recent win was against the Chicago Blackhawks, with a score of 2-1.

Andrei Vasilevskiy has been strong in the net for the Lightning. In the last five games, he made a significant number of saves. His performance helped the team secure four wins.

Top skaters for the Lightning include Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, and Brandon Hagel. Kucherov has been leading the team with 74 points. Guentzel and Hagel have also been contributing with their goals and assists.

Columbus Blue Jackets Team Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets recently showed strong defensive play in their win against the Dallas Stars. They managed 22 shots on goal and recorded 35 hits. Zach Werenski scored the only goal, while Damon Severson contributed an assist.

In their game against the Ottawa Senators, the Blue Jackets struggled. They lost 4-1 and had the same number of shots as in the Dallas game. Sean Monahan was the only player to score for the team.

The Blue Jackets had a successful outing against the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning 4-3. They took 25 shots on goal and had 24 blocks. Kirill Marchenko and Danton Heinen each scored a goal to help secure the win.

BTB Betting Pick

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the favorites with a moneyline of -126. They are ranked higher in goals and assists compared to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Lightning’s stronger offensive stats suggest they will win. The projected score is Tampa Bay 4, Columbus 3.

The total for the game is set at 6.5. With Tampa Bay’s strong offensive stats and Columbus’s higher goals against, the game is likely to be high-scoring. The recommendation is to take the over at 6.5 (-109). The projected total is 7 goals.