Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction, 1/8/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights

Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026

Location: T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, NV

TV: Vegas 34

T-Mobile Arena is the location where the Vegas Golden Knights (18-11-12) will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets (18-17-7) on Thursday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will need a bounce back game after taking a 5-2 defeat to the Sharks in the last game they played. Columbus accrued 15 mins in the box for this contest. Furthermore, they had 3 power play tries but didn't get a goal. The Blue Jackets left a lot to be desired in terms of their offense in the loss. In the matchup, they finished 2 out of the 36 shots they put on goal.

Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have 121 power play opportunities (21st in the NHL) and have earned 29 goals in those chances. The Blue Jackets thus far have had 1,307 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .892. Columbus has attempted 1,273 shots and has a shooting percentage of 9.8%. While at even strength, the Blue Jackets let the opposition score 112 goals while scoring 106 on offense. Columbus skates onto the rink with 106 power play chances and they have added 19 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 17.92%. For the current campaign, they sit with 43 points and their points % is .512. With regard to their scoring, the Columbus Blue Jackets have racked up 125 goals (21st in hockey) for the year and have given up 141.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Jet Greaves. Greaves has been involved in 50 contests during his professional hockey career. He has an overall record of 22-20-8 and he has gotten the start in 48 games. The opposition has been able to score 131 goals against Greaves in his pro career and his goals against average is 2.73. Greaves has seen 1,572 shot attempts taken against him and has accrued 1,441 total saves. His save percentage is at .917 in his 1,186 minutes guarding the cage. In his professional hockey career, Greaves has earned 32 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .667.

Their last time out, Vegas went up against the Jets in an outing where the Golden Knights got the victory by a mark of 4-3. They had 4 power play attempts in this game and scored 2 out of those attempts. The Golden Knights scored 4 goals of the 31 shots on goal they attempted.

The Golden Knights have earned 95 goals at even strength and 32 goals (8th in the league) while on the power play. Vegas has put up 1,188 shots (14th in professional hockey) and has a shot percentage of 10.69%, while allowing their opponents 1,021 shots. On the year, the Vegas Golden Knights have 127 goals, 48 points, as well as a points percentage of .585. They have permitted 124 goals to be scored by of a combination of 106 goals at even strength and 18 goals while they were shorthanded. They have earned 127 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play rate of 25.20%. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 81.82% on their opponents 99 power play opportunities, and their save percentage comes in at 87.9%.

Across the rink you are likely to see Carter Hart in the crease. Hart has a career mark of 101-96-32 and has participated in 238 contests. Hart's rate of quality starts comes out to 48.9% and he has made 112 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has a tally of 6,248 saves out of the 6,908 shots taken against him, giving him a save percentage of .904. His opponents are averaging 2.88 goals per contest and he has surrendered 660 goals altogether. He got the starting nod in 229 contests and has played 12,058 minutes.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus

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