Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 11/12/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: WXPX-TV, Blue Jackets Hockey Network

The Columbus Blue Jackets (7-8-0) will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning (11-4-2) at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will look for better times on the ice after their 4-3 loss to the Jets in their previous contest . Tampa Bay garnered 10 penalty mins in this contest. They also had 4 power play tries but didn't convert them into a score. The Lightning were neither impressive or disappointing offensively in this defeat. In the matchup, they tallied a score on 3 of the 21 shots they put on net.

Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have earned 48 power play opportunities (27th in the league) and have notched 13 goals in those chances. The Lightning have had 420 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .876. Tampa Bay has attempted 508 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 12.4%. At even strength, the Lightning let the opposition score 39 goals while notching 51 themselves. Tampa Bay has accounted for 62 power play chances and they have notched 12 goals out of those chances, earning them a rate of 19.35%. For the current season, they have earned 24 points and their points % is .706. Regarding their goal scoring prowess, the Tampa Bay Lightning have accounted for 63 goals (10th in the NHL) this season and have conceded 52.

The man protecting the net in this game is Dennis Hildeby. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Hildeby has 12 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .500. He has a save percentage of .903 for his 67 minutes guarding the cage. Hildeby has seen 804 shots taken against him and has amassed 726 saves. Opponents have been able to score 80 goals against Hildeby in his pro career and his goals against average per contest is 3.33. He has compiled a win-loss record of 11-10-5 and he has gotten the start in 24 games. Hildeby has taken the ice for 30 matchups during his hockey career.

In their last contest, Columbus faced the Sabres in a game where the Blue Jackets took the defeat by a tally of 5-2. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this outing and recorded 1 out of those attempts. The Blue Jackets netted 2 goals out of the 26 shots on goal they pursued.

The Blue Jackets have racked up 31 goals at even strength and 7 goals (31st in hockey) while having more men on the ice. Columbus has tried 387 shots (32nd in professional hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.82%, while allowing the other team 422 shots. Over the course of the season, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned a total of 38 goals, 14 points, in addition to a points percentage of .467. They have permitted 47 goals to be scored by way of 36 goals at even strength and 11 goals while they were shorthanded. They have recorded 40 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 17.50%. They have a penalty kill rate of 75.56% on the other teams 45 power play tries, and their save percentage comes in at 88.9%.

Across the ice you are likely to see Jet Greaves in the crease. He has recorded 2,248 stops out of 2,470 shots taken, which gives him a save % of .910. Greaves has amassed a career record of 38-34-11 and has been in net for 85 games. He has started in 81 games and his ice time sits at 206 minutes. Greaves' quality start percentage sits at 61.7% and he has qualified for 50 quality starting assignments in his career. The opposition is averaging 2.74 goals per contest and he has surrendered 222 goals overall.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus

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