NHL Match Prediction: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Columbus Blue Jackets
Tampa Bay LightningColumbus hosts Tampa Bay at Nationwide Arena on November 12 at 19:00 Eastern. The Blue Jackets are 15th in the Eastern Conference with 14 points from 16 games; the Lightning are fifth with 24 from 17. Columbus needs points to climb out of the bottom two, while Tampa Bay sits six points behind conference leader Carolina.
Columbus: uneven scoring at home
Recent form and venue split
The Blue Jackets have two wins and three defeats in their last five games. Their two consecutive losses followed back-to-back victories. The sample includes three home fixtures and two road games.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Columbus scored in all five games.
- The 7–2 win over Colorado was its highest-scoring game in this five-game stretch.
- Its season goal balance is 41–51.
Personnel and preparation
The hosts last played Florida at home on November 10.
- Florida Panthershome1:4
- Buffalo Sabresaway2:5
- Dallas Starshome2:1
- Colorado Avalanchehome7:2
- Dallas Starsaway1:3
Tampa Bay: scoring consistency, road concessions
Recent results and travel
The Lightning have won three of their last five. They scored four in each of the first four games before losing 4–3 at Winnipeg. Their latest listed fixture was November 8, although Columbus follows away stops in Minnesota and Winnipeg.
Where the balance shifts
- Tampa Bay scored at least three goals in every game of the five-match sample.
- Its two home wins produced an 8–3 aggregate; the three road fixtures brought one win and a 12–12 balance.
- Across the season, 63 goals in 17 games means 3.71 scored per game, against 3.12 conceded.
Point concern and forward reinforcement
On November 10, Jon Cooper said he hoped Brayden Point’s injury was not too serious, while acknowledging that the forward could miss time. Tampa Bay recalled Sam O’Reilly from Syracuse on November 11. Neither update confirms the game lineup. Starting-goalie save percentage and special-teams conversion rates are unavailable, so those areas cannot be used to quantify an advantage.
- Buffalo Sabresaway8:3
- Winnipeg Jetsaway3:4
- Minnesota Wildaway4:3
- Chicago Blackhawkshome4:1
- Detroit Red Wingshome4:2
Recent meetings differ from the longer record
Tampa Bay leads the five-year series by nine wins to six, but Columbus has won the latest three meetings. The most recent was a 5–2 road victory on March 10, 2026. Seven of the last eight meetings exceeded 5.5 goals, with 67 goals combined across those eight games. That is a high-scoring history, rather than a measure of the current goaltenders or line combinations.
- 10.03.2026Tampa Bay Lightning2:5Columbus Blue JacketsNHL
- 25.01.2026Columbus Blue Jackets8:5Tampa Bay LightningNHL
- 18.10.2025Columbus Blue Jackets3:2Tampa Bay LightningNHL
- 05.03.2025Tampa Bay Lightning6:2Columbus Blue JacketsNHL
- 18.12.2024Tampa Bay Lightning5:3Columbus Blue JacketsNHL
Coach’s update stops short of a return date
Cooper’s injury assessment contains no firm recovery timetable. No match-specific expert opinions or further confirmed team announcements are available.
Our first-period pick
Our bet is Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No 1.46. Columbus’s attack is the more plausible route to a scoreless side at the first intermission. This selection allows either team to score; it does not require a goalless opening period.
Tampa Bay’s 63 goals in 17 games exceed Columbus’s 41 in 16, but that gap does not establish that both attacks will strike early. Brayden Point’s injury adds a concern for the visitors, although his absence is not confirmed. The main risk is clear: both teams scored and conceded in all five of their latest games. Those full-game results caution against overconfidence, rather than proving an opening-period pattern. A plausible first-intermission score is 0–1.
Final verdict
Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No 1.46 is our selection, with Columbus’s recent scoring dip the clearest supporting factor. Keep confidence measured: the evidence supports a lean, not a strong claim about first-period frequency.
FAQ
When does Columbus Blue Jackets — Tampa Bay Lightning kick off?
The match starts on 12.11.2026 at 19:00 (New York), Nationwide Arena (Columbus).
What is the prediction for Columbus Blue Jackets — Tampa Bay Lightning?
Our pick is Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No at 1.46.
What are the teams’ chances?
By market estimate: Columbus Blue Jackets win — 38%, draw — 23%, Tampa Bay Lightning win — 40%.
Chances by market estimate
Team form
- Florida Panthershome1:4
- Buffalo Sabresaway2:5
- Dallas Starshome2:1
- Colorado Avalanchehome7:2
- Dallas Starsaway1:3
- Buffalo Sabresaway8:3
- Winnipeg Jetsaway3:4
- Minnesota Wildaway4:3
- Chicago Blackhawkshome4:1
- Detroit Red Wingshome4:2
Standings · Eastern Conference
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Boston Bruins | 18 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 68:41 | 27 |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 18 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 71:56 | 26 |
| 4 | Montreal Canadiens | 18 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 62:55 | 26 |
| 15 | Philadelphia Flyers | 21 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 47:69 | 16 |
| 16 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 16 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 41:51 | 14 |
Head-to-head
- 10.03.2026Tampa Bay Lightning2:5Columbus Blue JacketsNHL
- 25.01.2026Columbus Blue Jackets8:5Tampa Bay LightningNHL
- 18.10.2025Columbus Blue Jackets3:2Tampa Bay LightningNHL
- 05.03.2025Tampa Bay Lightning6:2Columbus Blue JacketsNHL
- 18.12.2024Tampa Bay Lightning5:3Columbus Blue JacketsNHL
About the match
- 12 November · 19:00 New York
- Venue: Nationwide Arena (Columbus)
Odds
Odds updated 11.11 19:10
A narrow away lean as the line shifts
The regulation-time market makes Tampa Bay a slight favourite: away win is assessed at 39.9%, home win at 37.3% and draw at 22.8%. Over the last 24 hours, the line has moved toward Columbus and the draw, and away from Tampa Bay. The small separation between the teams contrasts with their larger standings gap.
Over 5.5 goals carries a 56.4% assessment, although movement has favoured Under. Recent totals offer a mixed comparison: four of Tampa Bay’s last five games exceeded that threshold, against two of Columbus’s five. BTTS (both teams to score) is assessed at 87.7%; neither side has recorded a shutout or been shut out in its latest five games.
Our prediction
- Market
- Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No
- Current odds
- 1.46
- Odds at prediction
- 1.44
- Confidence
- Our estimate
- 64%
- Market estimate
- 63%
- Status
- pending
The bet will be placed 1–3 hours before the match
