Betting tips from AI for Columbus Blue Jackets vs Ottawa Senators, 21 January 2026.

This is a tight, high-scoring matchup, but I lean Ottawa. The Senators carry a lethal power play (24.5%) that should punish Columbus’s middling PK, and DRatings gives Ottawa a slight 51% road edge. Bookmakers list Columbus at 1.91 and Ottawa at 1.98, which prices Ottawa very close to fair value.

Ullmark’s injury forces Leevi Merilainen into the net after mixed starts, tilting the game toward a shootout scenario Fox Sports predicted (a 4-3 type affair). Columbus’s five-game slide and Ottawa’s special teams make the Senators the smarter money here; the draw at 4.20 is a long shot.

Betting Ottawa at 1.98 gives the best combination of value and matchup advantage.

This NHL clash between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators promises fireworks, with analysts predicting a wild shootout where the total soars over 6.5 goals. While Ottawa boasts a lethal power play, a significant edge against Columbus's penalty kill, their goaltending situation is a major concern. Senators' starter Linus Ullmark is sidelined, forcing backups like Leevi Merilainen into the net. This is a critical vulnerability for Ottawa, especially in a game expected to be a high-scoring affair, as indicated by Columbus's home over trend in 11 of 22 games.

Despite dropping their last five straight, the Blue Jackets are still moneyline favorites at home at 1.91. This suggests bookmakers see value in their home-ice advantage. DRatings gives Ottawa a slight 51% chance, projecting a tight 3.17-3.07 goal fest, but the absence of Ullmark could tilt the scales. Given the expected high-scoring nature and Ottawa's compromised goaltending, Columbus is poised to exploit the situation and edge out a victory.

This matchup has all the makings of a high-scoring thriller. Columbus enters as slight favorites at 1.91, but their five-game losing streak raises serious red flags despite the home-ice advantage. Ottawa's fourth-ranked power play (24.5%) gives them a significant edge against Columbus's mediocre penalty kill, potentially the difference-maker in a tight contest.

The Senators face goaltending challenges with Ullmark sidelined, forcing less-experienced backups like Merilainen between the pipes. However, analytics favor Ottawa with DRatings giving them a 51% win probability and projecting a tight 3.17-3.07 scoreline.

Columbus's strong 17-9 road ATS record doesn't help them here at home, where they've hit the over in 11 of 22 games. With both teams combining for nearly 6 goals per game on average, expect an offensive showcase potentially heading to overtime. The value lies with Ottawa at 1.98, slightly better odds for the team with superior special teams and statistical advantages.

The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Ottawa Senators in a pivotal NHL clash at Nationwide Arena, where fireworks are expected in this high-octane matchup. Columbus, despite a brutal five-game skid, enters as slight home favorites at 1.91, banking on their potent offense that averages nearly three goals per game. Analysts at Fox Sports foresee a wild 4-3 thriller, pushing the total over 6.5 in a combined scoring frenzy.

Ottawa's lethal power play, ranking fourth at 24.5%, could exploit Columbus's middling penalty kill, but the Senators face a massive blow with goalie Linus Ullmark sidelined. Backup Leevi Merilainen steps in after shaky recent outings, tilting the edge toward the Jackets' steady netminder. DRatings gives Ottawa a slim 51% upset chance in a projected 3.17-3.07 nail-biter, screaming overtime potential with draw odds at 4.20.

Columbus's home over trend in 11 of 22 games sets the stage for goals galore, but their resilience as moneyline favorites in razor-thin battles tips the scales. With Ottawa's 1.98 road value tempting, I'll back the Jackets to grind out a win in regulation, capitalizing on home ice and goaltending stability for a profitable edge.

The stage is set for a goal-filled thriller at Nationwide Arena, with Fox Sports forecasting a 4-3 Columbus edge in a wild shootout. Ottawa's lethal power play (24.5%, fourth in NHL) poses a major threat, but the Senators are hobbled by Linus Ullmark's injury, forcing backups into action.

Columbus, despite a five-game skid, is a slight moneyline favorite at home with odds of 1.91, while Ottawa at 1.98 offers close value. DRatings projects a 51% shot for the Senators in a 3.17-3.07 goal fest, but the Blue Jackets' home over trend and desperation to snap the streak give them the edge in a high-scoring affair.

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators are set to clash in what promises to be a high-scoring, thrilling matchup. Fox Sports analysts predict a wild shootout, with Columbus edging Ottawa 4-3. The Senators boast a lethal power play, ranking fourth in the league at 24.5%, which could give them a significant edge, especially against Columbus's average penalty kill. However, the Blue Jackets, despite their recent five-game losing streak, are still favored at home with nearly even odds. DRatings projects a close game, giving Ottawa a slight 51% chance to win, hinting at potential overtime drama. Adding to the intrigue, Ottawa's starting goalie, Linus Ullmark, is sidelined, leaving the net to backups like Leevi Merilainen, who has had a mixed performance recently. This could tip the scales slightly in favor of Columbus, who also have a solid road ATS record and a home over trend in 11 of 22 games. Given these factors, the Blue Jackets' home advantage and the Senators' goaltending uncertainty, Columbus is poised to break their losing streak and secure a narrow victory.