Columbus Blue Jackets vs Utah Mammoth Prediction, 1/11/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Utah Mammoth

Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026

Location: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah

TV: Utah 16

The Columbus Blue Jackets (18-18-7) are hitting the road to Delta Center on Sunday where they will go up against the Utah Mammoth (21-20-3).

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be looking to get a win in their next outing after their 5-3 loss against the Golden Knights in their previous contest . Columbus amassed 4 penalty mins for this matchup. Furthermore, they had 1 opportunity with more players on the ice but didn't convert it into a score. The Blue Jackets had an average offensive performance in the defeat. For the matchup, they tallied a score on 3 of the 24 shots they attempted.

Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have 123 power play opportunities (22nd in professional hockey) and have a total of 30 goals in those attempts. The Blue Jackets so far have had 1,333 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .890. Columbus has tried 1,297 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 9.9%. At even strength, the Blue Jackets have given up 116 goals while having 109 themselves. Columbus has tallied 107 power play opportunities and they have tallied 19 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 17.76%. For the year, they have accumulated 43 points and their points percentage sits at .500. When discussing their scoring capabilities, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 128 goals (20th in the National Hockey League) on the season and have given up 146.

The man in goal for this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has been in goal for 258 contests during his NHL career. He has compiled a mark of 100-106-36 and got the start in 243 games. Opponents have scored 780 goals versus Merzlikins in his professional career and his goals against average per game is 3.21. Merzlikins has seen 7,816 shots taken against him and he has 7,036 saves. He has a save percentage of .900 for his 12,965 mins on the ice. In his career, Merzlikins has tallied 116 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .477.

In their last outing, Utah squared up with the Senators in a game where the Mammoth earned a victory by a score of 3-1. They had 4 power play opportunities in this outing but weren't able to score a goal. The Mammoth converted 3 goals out of the 21 shots on goal they attempted.

Utah has attempted 1,247 shots (12th in hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.67%, while allowing their opponents 1,114 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 81.25% on the other teams 128 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 88.8%. They have earned 129 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 15.50%. The Mammoth have earned 113 goals at even strength and 20 goals (26th in hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have allowed 125 goals to be scored by way of 101 goals at even strength and 24 goals while they were shorthanded. For the season, the Utah Mammoth have accumulated 133 goals, 45 points, as well as a points percentage of .511.

Across the ice you are likely to see Karel Vejmelka protecting the net. Vejmelka has a lifetime record of 89-108-21 and has participated in 231 games. Vejmelka's percentage of quality starts is 47.9% and he has made 105 quality starting assignments in his career. He has tallied 6,081 saves out of the 6,763 shots taken, which gives him a percentage of .899. Teams are averaging 3.11 goals per game and he has allowed 682 goals altogether. He was named a starter in 219 games and has accumulated 10,574 mins.

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

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Utah

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