Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction (March 3rd, 2026)
The Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets give NHL fans a fun inter-league showdown on Tuesday night. FanDuel has Columbus coming in as -140 home favorites, and it’s pretty arguable they’re quite the steal, all things considered.
Columbus owns the better record on the year and comes into this matchup in sparkling form. They are 8-1-1 over their last 10 games, while the Blue Jackets have also been at their best (15-13-5) on their home ice.
Both teams are still fighting to make sure they can be in the NHL playoff picture, but the Predators may need this win a little more than Columbus does. Nashville has their work cut out for them, of course, as they’ve dropped two in a row and are just 3-3-4 over their last 10 games.
So, which side do you have? If you’re not sure how to bet on this game, join me as I analyze the latest odds, highlight the best bets, and wrap things up with a Predators vs. Blue Jackets prediction.
Game Info
- Matchup: Nashville Predators (27-25-8) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (30-21-8)
- Date & Time: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, at 6:00 pm (7:00 pm ET)
- Venue: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
- How to Watch:ESPN+, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, and FanDuel Sports Network South
Betting Odds
Take a look at the latest Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets odds, courtesy of FanDuel:
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Predators | +1.5 (-220) | +116 | Over 6.5 (+100) |
Blue Jackets | -1.5 (+176) | -140 | Under 6.5 (-122) |
Recent Form & Context
To get a better idea as to what to expect out of this matchup, let’s quickly break down how these teams have fared to this point.
Nashville Predators
- Nashville has had a below-average offense on the year, averaging 2.9 goals per game.
- The Predators have excelled in power play situations, ranking 11th with 40 power play goals.
- Nashville has also recorded a strong 22.6% power play percentage, which ranks 10th.
- The Predators are not a very efficient offense, as they rank just 28th in shot percentage (10.2%).
- Nashville is solid at containing other teams in power play situations, as they rank 13th with a 80% penalty kill rate.
- Nashville is poor defensively, allowing 3.45 goals per contest (29th).
- The Predators give up quite a bit of volume on their own net, ranking 12th in shots allowed, while ranking just 23rd in save rate.
Injuries
- D Adam Wilsby is listed as out and is not expected to play on Tuesday night.
Columbus Blue Jackets
- The Blue Jackets are a middle-of-the-pack offense with 3.12 goals scored per game.
- Columbus is one of the worst power play offenses in hockey (27th) with just 28 total power play goals.
- Columbus is very aggressive at the net, ranking 6th in total shots on the year, but they lack efficiency (24th in shot rate).
- Columbus is not particularly strong defensively, as they allow 3.12 goals per game (22nd).
- The Blue Jackets give up a lot of volume around the net (5th), but rank 10th in save rate.
Injuries
- D Zach Werenski is currently listed as day-to-day with an injury.
Matchup Breakdown
This is a matchup of middling teams that are inconsistent offensively and not very imposing on defense. Neither of these teams thrive in power play settings, so they need to execute via their traditional offense.
The early edge probably lies with the Blue Jackets, who have the comfort of playing at home and are in quite the groove at the moment. More importantly, they push the pace and unleash a lot of volume on the net.
Columbus is not super efficient or productive, but this is going to be a numbers game. On top of that, Nashville’s ability to thwart off power play offense really isn’t as much of an asset here. The Predators are also in poor form and are not very reliable on the road this season.
This series is typically pretty tight, too. Nashville stole the first meeting in a close 2-1 barn burner, and these teams have split the season series 1-1 in three of the last four years. I think it makes sense for Columbus to return the favor and stay hot at home in this one.
Playing Styles & Trends
- Nashville: The Predators balance possession with quick rushes, but this is not a dominant offense. They may need things to break their way to have a lot of success on the road.
- Columbus: The Blue Jackets have an up-tempo attack that will go after the net at will. They are particularly dangerous on their home ice, so they get a bit of a boost in this spot.
- Special Teams: Neither of these teams thrives when they have the numbers advantage, but Nashville gets a mild edge due to their ability to limit power play scoring.
- Defense: The Predators are poor defensively, but know how to limit the opposition when they are losing numbers. Columbus is the easier defense to put faith in, but neither defense is anything close to elite.
Betting Market Notes
- Puck Line (1.5: -220/+176): The most recent matchup was tight, so I’m not enamored with either puck line bet. The +1.5 is not appealing whatsoever, but Columbus at home is in play to win by two goals (+180).
- Moneyline (+116/-140): Columbus stands out as the obvious pick at -135 on their home ice. They are the better team, they’re on fire right now, and this matchup suits them better even though they dropped the first meeting.
- Total (6.5: +106/-122): This total is pretty high considering these offenses aren’t super productive and neither team is elite in power play settings. The Under is the most logical bet considering how high the over/under is.
Props & Alternative Markets
- Anytime Goal Scorer – Kirill Marchenko (+180): You can bet on a handful of players and Filip Forsberg leads the way with the best odds at +175. I’ll take a mild discount with Marchenko, who leads Columbus with 22 goals. Steven Stamkos paces all goal scorers (30) and is also interesting at +180.
- First to 5 Shots on Goal – Blue Jackets (-135): Even if you don’t like Columbus to win, you should be aware of how they play. Due to their volume output, they look like a fantastic bet to be the one to get to five shots on goal first.
Best Bets for Nashville vs. Columbus
Check out my preferred Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets bets for tonight:
| Bet | Why Do We Like It? | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
Blue Jackets ML (-140) | Columbus is the better team, and they’re at home. This matchup sets up nicely for them, and they’ve been on fire lately. All things considered, their price is kind of insane. | 7/10 |
First to 5 Shots on Goal – Columbus (-135) | Not sure about Columbus? Just bet on this prop, which plays into their approach and tendency to generate loads of shot volume on offense. | 8/10 |
Under 6.5 (-122) | While the Blue Jackets should be active and get the win, I doubt these two are going to engage in an explosive shootout. The first meeting totaled just three goals, and something similar wouldn’t be shocking. | 7/10 |
Predators vs. Blue Jackets odds show a 6.5 total as bettors weigh Columbus’ shot volume against Nashville’s penalty kill. Track line movement at our top sports betting sites.
Risk Factors & What Could Go Wrong
Betting on hockey can be risky, so keep the following things in mind when placing these Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets bets:
- Upset Special: Nashville isn’t a bad team, and they did win in this matchup earlier this year. An upset is entirely possible, and that would kill my first Nashville vs. Columbus pick.
- Slow Start: Columbus is a high-volume offense, but Nashville knows that. Either the Predators could work harder than usual to maintain puck control, or they could benefit from having numbers on their side early.
- Fire Fight: These offenses aren’t elite, but neither are the defenses. When you look at the shot volume from Columbus and the suspect defense from both sides, a shootout isn’t entirely illogical.
Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction
I’ll bend a bit and concede that there could be a little more offense in this one than what we saw in the previous meeting this year. My main Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets prediction still has the home team winning, though, and that’s where I’d branch off any other bets.
The Columbus moneyline is a steal at -140. They’re at their best at home; they have been very good over their last 10 games, and they’re simply the better team overall. Given the fact that Nashville got the best of them last time, I expect them to be extra motivated to notch the season series up at 1-1.
You can target any of the other Nashville vs. Columbus picks, as the Under and First to 5 Shots bets still look very solid. I also feel good about Kirill finding the net in this spot. But if you’re looking for the best bet to target, it’s Columbus to get the win.
Final Score Prediction: Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Nashville Predators 2
