Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction & Odds – November 12, 2026

Tampa Bay brings the stronger overall record to Nationwide Arena, but Columbus has done most of its winning at home. The Lightning’s scoring advantage meets a Blue Jackets team looking to regain its footing.

Game details and odds

Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST · Nationwide Arena

Total: 6.5 — over -105, under -115.

DraftKings odds checked November 12, 2026 18:00 UTC. Odds subject to change.

Lightning offense faces a tougher road test

Tampa Bay is 12-4-2 and scores 3.94 goals per game, with Brandon Hagel leading the team with 11 goals and Nikita Kucherov pacing it with 26 points. The distinction is location: the Lightning are 4-4-2 on the road, so their overall record does not tell the whole story here.

The Lightning have won four of their five listed completed games, most recently scoring eight goals in an 8-3 road win over Buffalo. That response followed a 4-3 loss at Winnipeg, their only defeat in the stretch. A 4-3 win at Minnesota showed they can get through a close road game, while home victories over Chicago and Detroit gave them a broader run of positive results. The Buffalo outburst is the standout, but the Winnipeg and Minnesota scores show that their road games have not all been comfortable.

Columbus seeks a steadier home response

Columbus is 6-4-0 at home despite a 7-9-0 overall record, making its home form a meaningful counterweight to Tampa Bay’s scoring edge. The Blue Jackets average 2.44 goals per game and allow 3.19. Kent Johnson leads them with eight goals and 16 points, giving their offense a focal point.

The Blue Jackets’ five listed completed games tell a less settled story. They beat Colorado 7-2 at home and followed with a 2-1 home win over Dallas, showing they can win both a high-scoring game and a tight one. Since then, however, they have lost 5-2 at Buffalo and 4-1 at home to Florida. An earlier 3-1 loss at Dallas adds to the inconsistency. Columbus has shown enough at home to challenge, but its two most recent results leave a clear need for a stronger response.

Injury news

Tampa Bay Lightning: Erik Cernak – Out (Undisclosed); Brayden Point – Injured Reserve (Undisclosed).

Columbus Blue Jackets: No player statuses returned in the latest check..

Availability checked November 12, 2026 18:00 UTC. Reported statuses may change; final lineups are not confirmed here.

BTB Betting Pick

Winner pick: Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tampa Bay’s scoring rate and four wins in its five listed completed games give it the edge. Columbus has won at home recently, though, and the Lightning’s road record leaves room for a close contest.

Original winner pick recorded November 12, 2026 03:00 UTC. Subsequent updates retain that selection.