The Columbus Blue Jackets (3-3-0) travel to face off against the Nashville Predators (1-5-0) on Saturday, October 26th. This game will be played at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and televised on ESPN+. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Puck drop is set for 8:00 ET.

Blue Jackets vs Predators

The Columbus Blue Jackets Are Coming Off A Win

With a 6-2 win over the Maple Leafs, Columbus evened their record at 3-3-0. The Blue Jackets covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total of 8 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

Five different players scored for Columbus, with Mathieu Olivier leading the way with two goals. The Blue Jackets also jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period.

The Nashville Predators Are Coming Off A Win

Nashville finally got their first win of the season, shutting out the Bruins 4-0. The Predators covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6 goals, but the combined score reached only 4. With the win, Nashville’s record now stands at 1-5-0.

All four of Nashville’s goals came from different players. Ryan O’Reilly opened the scoring at 2:44 in the first period with a power-play goal. The Predators’ defense held strong, keeping the Bruins scoreless throughout the game.

Columbus Offense Breakdown

Columbus fired 38 shots on goal and scored six times in their 6-2 victory over Toronto. Mathieu Olivier netted two goals, bringing his season total to three. Justin Danforth added his first goal of the season and picked up two assists.

Kirill Marchenko scored his third goal of the season, while Sean Monahan, who now has three goals this year, also found the net. James van Riemsdyk opened the scoring with his second goal of the season. The Blue Jackets recorded 19 giveaways in the game.

Predators Offense Breakdown

Nashville fired 42 shots on goal in their 4-0 win over Boston, with four different players finding the net. Ryan O’Reilly scored his second goal of the season on a power play, while Tommy Novak added his third. Gustav Nyquist and Luke Evangelista also scored, with Evangelista’s first goal coming on an empty net.

Evangelista picked up his third assist on Novak’s goal, while Roman Josi recorded his fifth assist on Nyquist’s goal. The Predators had 20 giveaways in the game.

Columbus Team Defense

Defensively, Daniil Tarasov made 26 saves with a 92.9% save percentage, helping Columbus to a 6-2 win over Toronto. The Blue Jackets’ defense added 5 takeaways and 19 hits. Both goals they allowed came late, with one at 18:59 of the 2nd period and another at 13:03 of the 3rd.

Nashville Team Defense

Juuse Saros was perfect in net for the Predators, stopping all 33 shots from the Bruins and finishing with a 100% save percentage. Nashville’s defense also contributed with 7 takeaways and 32 hits.

Blue Jackets vs Predators Trends

• Across their ten previous road games, Columbus has an puck line mark of 3-7. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-9 while averaging 2 goals per game.
• Through their last five home contests, the Predators offense has averaged 2 goals per game while allowing an average of 4. Nashville posted an overall record of 1-4 while going 2-3 ATS.
• Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Predators have a straight up record of 4-6. Their record vs the puck line in these games was 5-5.
• Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Blue Jackets have a straight up record of 5-5. But, their mark vs the puck line was just 4-6.

Blue Jackets vs Predators Prediction

If you’re considering a direct moneyline bet, the Predators is the choice to make. However, with a payout of -243, you might want to use this bet as a building block for a parlay.

When it comes to my suggested pick for the puck line, I’d advise taking the Blue Jackets to cover. Even in the event of a Predators victory, this matchup is likely to remain closely contested, and the Blue Jackets should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.