Vegas Golden Knights vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Prediction for Saturday October 24, 2026
The Vegas Golden Knights will travel to Ohio Saturday evening for an interconference matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM Eastern, with ESPN+ coverage. The Vegas Golden Knights come into Saturday at 8-4 this season, but they ride a two-game skid after a four-goal road loss to St. Louis in their last outing. Columbus enters Saturday two games below .500 through eight games played, having lost four of its last five games, including two in a row. Vegas is a -135 road favorite coming into Saturday. Columbus is at +114 on the money line, and the total is set at 6.5. Stay in the action with our NHL Picks.
Vegas is desperate to end the skid
The Vegas offense has carried them this season, averaging 3.75 goals on 30.1 shots per game, though they have scored just four goals across their last two losses. Defensively, Vegas has been mediocre, allowing three goals on 25.5 shots per game, and they've given up six goals in each of their last two losses. Jack Eichel is leading the Vegas offense this season with 19 points and 13 assists. Mark Stone is second on the team with 15 points, and he leads the way with eight goals. Mitch Marner is the third Vegas player in double digits with 12 points scored this season.
Adin Hill was terrible in net last game for Vegas, giving up six goals on 31 shots to post an .806 save percentage. Brett Howden and Jack Eichel provided the only real spark with one goal each.
Key Injury Report for Vegas:
- Mitch Marner (Day-to-Day) - Oct 24
- Parker Wotherspoon (IR) - Nov 8
Columbus tries to lean on home fans
The Columbus Blue Jackets offense has been a bottom feeder in the NHL this season, averaging just 2.38 goals on 27.5 shots per game. Defensively, Columbus is struggling just as badly, allowing 3.63 goals on 27.8 shots per game, and they've given up 20 goals across their last four losses. Charlie Coyle is leading Columbus this season with seven points, and he boasts a team-high six assists. Zach Werenski and Cole Sillinger are both tied for second on the roster with six points each. Kent Johnson is third on the team with five points, and he leads the way with four goals scored.
Jet Greaves struggled in net for Columbus last time out, giving up five goals on 19 shots to post a .737 save percentage. Cam Talbot was better, giving up one goal on three shots to post a .667 save percentage in just under 28 minutes. Jake Christiansen and Charlie Coyle led the scoring with one goal each.
Key Injury Report for Columbus:
- None
Vegas Golden Knights vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Prediction
Pick: Vegas Golden Knights -135
Vegas should have an opportunity to end its recent struggles against a Columbus team that has experienced significant defensive difficulties. The Blue Jackets have lost four of their previous five games, including a disappointing 6-2 defeat against Toronto that exposed several weaknesses in their defensive-zone coverage. Vegas has also struggled recently, but the Golden Knights possess the offensive depth and experience necessary to take advantage of a Columbus defense that has had difficulty limiting scoring opportunities. Jack Eichel should play an important role in generating offense, particularly if Vegas can establish possession and create opportunities through the middle of the ice. Columbus has enough young offensive talent to make things competitive, but the Blue Jackets will need to improve defensively to avoid another disappointing performance. Expect the Golden Knights to establish consistent pressure and capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Take Vegas to secure the road victory.
Pick: Over 6.5
Columbus has struggled defensively in recent outings, creating an opportunity for Vegas to produce a strong offensive performance Saturday evening. The Blue Jackets allowed six goals against Toronto and have had difficulty preventing opponents from establishing consistent pressure in their defensive zone. Vegas should look to take advantage of those struggles by generating scoring opportunities through its forecheck and creating traffic around the net. The Golden Knights have enough offensive talent to produce several goals, particularly if Columbus continues to have problems clearing the puck and limiting second-chance opportunities. However, the Blue Jackets should also have opportunities against a Vegas team that has struggled to secure victories in its recent outings. Columbus will need to be aggressive offensively to keep pace, which could create an open contest with opportunities at both ends. Expect Vegas to lead the offensive production while Columbus contributes enough scoring to push the game over the total.