Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights 24 October 2026 Prediction

The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Vegas Golden Knights in a matchup between teams at opposite ends of their conference standings. Vegas started the season strongly but has lost its last two games. Columbus has struggled to score and will try to end a three-game losing streak against the Golden Knights.

Columbus Struggles to Score

Rick Bowness’s team has earned six points in its first eight games and sits last in the Eastern Conference. Columbus has scored a conference-low 20 goals, including just four in its last three games. The Blue Jackets lost 6-2 at home to Toronto in their most recent game.

Columbus outshot Toronto 27-22 but conceded both a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal. The Blue Jackets have converted just 8.7% of their power-play opportunities, the lowest rate in the league.

Columbus Blue Jackets Predicted Lineup: Greaves (Talbot) — Werenski, Severson — Nichushkin, Fantilli, Johnson

Other Roster Players: Defensemen — Mateychuk, Soucy, Christiansen, Andre; forwards — Sillinger, Monahan, Garland, Nies, Coyle, Olivier, Lomberg, Del Bel Belluz, Heinen

Out: Fabbro, Lundestrom, Provorov (all injured)

Manager: Rick Bowness

Four Straight 6-2 Games for Vegas

Vegas’s last four games have all ended 6-2. The Golden Knights beat Calgary and Pittsburgh at home before losing to Tampa Bay at home and St. Louis on the road. Against the Blues, Vegas allowed two power-play goals and failed to score on its own power plays.

Despite those two losses, Ryan Craig’s team remains in the top three in the Western Conference standings. Vegas also ranks among the conference’s top three in goals scored, with 46. Its 12.4% shooting percentage ranks 10th in the league.

Vegas Golden Knights Predicted Lineup: Hart (Hill) — McNabb, Theodore — Barbashev, Eichel, Stone

Other Roster Players: Defensemen — Andersson, Lauzon, Hanifin, Coghlan; forwards — Connelly, Hertl, Lavoie, Howden, Karlsson, Holtz, Bowman, Dowd, Gatcomb

Out: Olofsson, Wotherspoon (both injured); Marner (questionable)

Manager: Ryan Craig

Vegas Has Won the Recent Meetings

The Golden Knights have won their last three games against Columbus. Last season, Vegas won 3-2 in Columbus despite trailing twice, then won the return game at home 5-3. Reilly Smith scored twice in that second meeting.

Key Stats

Vegas generates 3.47 expected goals per game, fifth most in the league.

Columbus has avoided a first-period loss in six straight games.

The Golden Knights average 29.7 shots on goal per game, sixth most in the league.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction: Vegas Golden Knights to Win at 1.71

Main prediction: Vegas has won three of its last five road games, while Columbus has lost three of its last five at home. The Golden Knights are 10 points ahead of the Blue Jackets in the standings and have earned points in five straight meetings, winning four. The pick is Vegas to win, including overtime and the shootout, at 1.71. Projected score: Columbus 3, Vegas 4.

Total goals prediction: The teams combined for eight goals in their last meeting. Each of Vegas’s last five games has featured at least seven goals, while three of Columbus’s last five have reached eight. The secondary pick is over 6.5 total goals at 2.24.