Columbus Blue Jackets vs Detroit Red Wings 21 September 2026 Prediction

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings meet in preseason after both missed the playoffs last season. They finished in adjacent spots in the Eastern Conference standings and struggled down the stretch. Neither club was especially active in the offseason, opting for targeted roster changes.

Columbus Blue Jackets Playoff Outlook

Columbus struggled last season, and Dean Evason was dismissed in January. Rick Bowness replaced him, but the Blue Jackets still failed to reach the playoffs. Despite that result, general manager Don Waddell continues to support Bowness, who has been tasked with leading Columbus to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in seven years.

The Blue Jackets signed Valeri Nichushkin, who recorded 17 goals and 32 assists for Colorado, while Ryan Lomberg, who had four goals and five assists for Calgary, strengthened the bottom six. Captain Boone Jenner, who finished with 13 goals and 25 assists, left the team. Columbus retained its top two scorers from last season, Zach Werenski with 81 points and Kirill Marchenko with 67. However, Marchenko could reportedly still leave the club.

Detroit Red Wings Face Roster Uncertainty

Detroit missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th consecutive season. General manager Steve Yzerman was removed from his position, with Shawn Horcoff set to take over on an interim basis. The club has also yet to resolve Dylan Larkin’s contract situation. Larkin requested a trade and was stripped of the captaincy.

Keegan Kolesar, who recorded six goals and 11 assists for Vegas, was Detroit’s only notable addition. The Red Wings also lost Patrick Kane, who returned to Chicago. The 37-year-old forward scored 57 points, including 16 goals and 41 assists, and ranked among Detroit’s top five scorers last season.

Recent Head-to-Head Meetings

The teams have split their last eight meetings with four wins apiece. Half of those games required overtime or a shootout. Columbus won the most recent matchup 4-3 in a road shootout. Werenski had a goal and an assist before scoring the decisive shootout attempt.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction: Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline

Main prediction: Columbus lost its captain but retained its leading offensive players. The Blue Jackets are also expected to enter the season with Jett Greaves in net after he posted a .908 save percentage last season. Detroit is projected to use an inconsistent goalie tandem of John Gibson, who had a .901 save percentage, and Daniil Tarasov, who finished at .895. The Red Wings also went through significant offseason changes that create additional uncertainty. Columbus has won the last two head-to-head meetings and has the stronger outlook for this preseason matchup. The pick is Columbus Blue Jackets moneyline.

Totals prediction: The teams have combined for at least six goals in each of their last eight meetings. The most recent matchup with fewer than six goals took place in October 2023. Based on that trend, the pick is over 5.5 goals.