Columbus Blue Jackets vs Ottawa Senators Prediction, 12/29/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Ottawa Senators

Date: Monday, December 29, 2025

Location: Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON

TV: TSN5

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+126) Senators (-152)

The Ottawa Senators (18-13-5) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (15-15-6) at Canadian Tire Centre on Monday. The moneyline on this game has the Blue Jackets at +126 while the Senators are coming in at -152. The total has been set at 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 3-1 win against the Kings in their previous contest . Columbus had 12 penalty mins in this matchup. The Blue Jackets had a middle of the road offensive performance in the victory. In addition, they had 7 chances with extra men on the ice and scored 3 goals. In the game, they scored on 3 out of the 30 shots they tried.

Get all of our NHL Betting Picks

When playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets have conceded 98 goals while notching 85 of their own. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have 101 power play tries (26th in hockey) and have earned 26 goals in those attempts. With respect to their scoring, the Columbus Blue Jackets have racked up 104 goals (22nd in pro hockey) on the year and have conceded 124. Columbus has attempted 1,085 shots and has a shooting percentage of 9.6%. For the current campaign, they have earned 36 points and their points percentage comes in at .500. The Blue Jackets have seen 1,108 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .888. Columbus has accumulated 92 power play chances and they have tallied 19 goals during those chances, giving them a rate of 20.65%.

The man protecting the net in this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Opponents have racked up 780 goals against Merzlikins in his NHL career and his goals against average per game is 3.21. Merzlikins has taken the ice for 258 games over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage is .900 for his 12,965 mins between the pipes. He has accumulated a win-loss record of 100-106-36 and he started in 243 games. Over the course of his career, Merzlikins has earned 116 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .477. Merzlikins has had 7,816 shot attempts against him and has amassed 7,036 total saves.

When they were on the ice last, Ottawa faced the Sabres in an outing where the Senators ended up taking the loss by a final of 3-2. They had 3 power play opportunities in this one and notched 1 out of those chances. The Senators earned 2 goals out of the 26 shots on goal they were seeking.

So far this year, the Ottawa Senators have earned 116 goals, 41 points, in addition to a points percentage of .569. They have allowed 113 goals to be scored by of a combination of 85 goals at even strength and 28 goals while they were shorthanded. The Senators have earned 85 goals at even strength and 31 goals (3rd in the NHL) while on the power play. They have a tally of 119 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 26.05%. Ottawa has taken 1,003 shots (21st in the league) and has earned a shot percentage of 11.57%, while allowing the other team 913 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 71.72% on their oppositions 99 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 87.6%.

Across the rink you are likely to see Linus Ullmark protecting the goal. Opponents are averaging 2.56 goals per contest and he has relinquished 788 goals in total. Ullmark's quality start rate is 63.0% and he has qualified for 194 quality starts in his career. He was named a starter in 308 games and has been on the ice for 15,491 mins. Ullmark is the owner of a career mark of 177-95-31 and has been in net for 318 contests. He has tallied 8,445 saves out of 9,233 shots taken, which gives him a save % of .915.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Ottawa (-152)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get NHL picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.