Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadiens Prediction, 3/26/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026

Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

TV: TSN2

Bell Centre is the site where the Montreal Canadiens (38-21-10) will try to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets (37-22-11) on Thursday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will look for better times on the ice after their 1-0 defeat to the Islanders their last time on the ice. Columbus amassed 6 mins in the box in this contest. In addition, they had 1 power play try but didn't net one. The Blue Jackets had an offensive game that was below their expectations in this loss. In the game, they ended the night with no scores out of the 26 shots they tried.

Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have recorded 194 power play opportunities (22nd in hockey) and have a total of 43 goals in those chances. The Blue Jackets have seen 2,036 shots tried against them and hold a save percentage of .895. Columbus has tried 2,097 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 10.6%. While playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets let the opposition score 171 goals while notching 187 on offense. Columbus comes into the game with 172 power play chances and they have tallied 35 goals out of those chances, garnering them a rate of 20.35%. For the current season, they have 85 points and their points percentage is .607. With respect to their scoring capabilities, the Columbus Blue Jackets have notched 222 goals (15th in the National Hockey League) so far this year and have conceded 214.

The player between the pipes for this game is Jet Greaves. For his career, Greaves has accumulated 42 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .667. He has a save percentage of .915 for his 1,225 minutes on the ice. Greaves has seen 1,984 shots taken against him and he has 1,815 total saves. The opposition has been able to score 169 goals versus Greaves in his professional hockey career and his average for goals against per game is 2.68. He has accumulated a win-loss record of 33-22-10 and he has gotten the start in 63 games. Greaves has taken the ice for 66 games over the course of his professional hockey career.

In their last game, Montreal faced the Islanders in a game where the Canadiens ended up with the victory by a mark of 7-3. They had 4 chances on the power play in this matchup and tallied 3 out of those tries. The Canadiens tallied 7 goals out of the 36 shots on goal they tried.

This season, the Montreal Canadiens have accounted for 242 goals, 86 points, as well as a points percentage of .623. They have granted a total of 223 goals to be scored by of a combination of 172 goals at even strength and 51 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Canadiens have accumulated 192 goals at even strength and 50 goals (6th in the league) while having a power play advantage. They have a total of 197 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 25.38%. Montreal has attempted 1,846 shots (24th in hockey) and has a shot percentage of 13.11%, while allowing the other team 1,894 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 76.50% on their opponents 217 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 88.2%.

Across the rink you are likely to see Jakub Dobes between the pipes. Teams are averaging 2.83 goals per game and he has yielded 136 goals altogether. Dobes' rate of quality starts sits at 56.3% and he has made 27 quality starting assignments in his career. He has been a starter 48 games and has been on the ice for 931 mins. Dobes has accrued a career record of 29-12-7 and has been in goal for 50 games. He has compiled 1,203 stops out of the 1,339 shots taken against him, which gives him a rate of .898.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus

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