Vegas Golden Knights @ Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Game Preview: Prediction, Betting Odds & 4 Prop Bets

Saturday, October 24, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM ET Location: Nationwide Arena — Columbus, Ohio Tickets: As low as $30 Betting Line: Vegas -135 Over/Under: 6.5 Goals Game: NHL Regular Season

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction & Matchup Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets face one of their toughest early-season tests Saturday night when Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights visit Nationwide Arena.

Vegas enters at 8-4-0, but the Golden Knights suddenly find themselves trying to stop a two-game skid. They were beaten 6-2 by Tampa Bay on October 20 and followed that with another 6-2 loss at St. Louis on Thursday night.

Despite those defeats, Vegas remains one of the NHL’s most dangerous offensive teams.

Entering Thursday’s game, the Golden Knights led the NHL with 44 goals in 11 games. Jack Eichel had already accumulated 18 points with five goals and 13 assists, Mark Stone had 15 points, and Mitch Marner had 12.

That represents a major challenge for a Columbus team coming off its own difficult defensive performance.

The Blue Jackets fell to 3-5-0 after a 6-2 home loss to Toronto on Tuesday. Columbus actually outshot the Maple Leafs 37-22, but Toronto scored four consecutive goals and took control in the second period.

The underlying performance was more encouraging than the score suggests. Generating 37 shots shows Columbus was able to create offense, but finishing and goaltending ultimately tilted the result heavily toward Toronto.

Columbus continues to build around Adam Fantilli, Matthew Knies and Zach Werenski.

Fantilli centers a talented top line with Knies and Kent Johnson, while Werenski remains one of the NHL’s most dangerous offensive defensemen. Valeri Nichushkin, Sean Monahan, Dmitri Voronkov, Charlie Coyle and Conor Garland give Columbus additional scoring depth.

Vegas counters with tremendous star power.

The Golden Knights have recently used Ivan Barbashev–Jack Eichel–Mark Stone as their top line, with Brett Howden–William Karlsson–Mitch Marner providing another highly skilled combination. Tomas Hertl gives Vegas additional size and scoring deeper in the lineup.

The matchup may come down to whether Columbus can withstand Vegas’ speed and puck movement without allowing long stretches of offensive-zone pressure.

Vegas is the better team on paper, but Columbus has two meaningful advantages: home ice and rest. The Blue Jackets have not played since Tuesday, while Vegas played Thursday night in St. Louis before continuing its road trip to Columbus.

🔥 Top 4 Expanded Prop Bets

Player-prop lines vary by sportsbook. The thresholds below are recommended target lines unless your sportsbook has already posted an official number. Confirm starting goaltenders and player availability before wagering.

Prop Bet #1: Jack Eichel Over 0.5 Points

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Eichel Over 0.5 Points

• 18 Points Through 11 Games
• 13 Assists
• Elite Top-Line Usage

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Eichel has been one of the league’s most productive playmakers during the opening month.

He entered Thursday with 18 points in 11 games, including 13 assists, placing him among the NHL leaders in playmaking.

Columbus just surrendered six goals to Toronto, and Vegas has enough high-end finishers around Eichel to turn his chances into assists.

Recommended target: Eichel over 0.5 points.

Prop Bet #2: Zach Werenski Over 2.5 Shots on Goal

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Werenski Over 2.5 Shots

• Heavy Ice Time
• Power-Play Role
• Offensive Defenseman

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Werenski should be heavily involved if Columbus is going to keep pace offensively.

He quarterbacks the Blue Jackets’ attack from the blue line, logs major minutes and is rarely hesitant to shoot when lanes open.

Vegas has allowed 12 goals over its last two games, so Columbus should attack rather than sit back.

Three shots is a reasonable target for Werenski.

Prop Bet #3: Mitch Marner Over 0.5 Assists

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Marner Over 0.5 Assists

• 10 Assists Through 11 Games
• Seven-Game Point Streak
• Elite Playmaker

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Marner entered Thursday with 10 assists and 12 points through 11 games, while carrying a seven-game point streak into the matchup with St. Louis.

His role alongside William Karlsson gives Vegas another elite distributor beyond Eichel.

If the Golden Knights score three or four goals, Marner has an excellent chance to factor into at least one.

Recommended target: Marner over 0.5 assists.

Prop Bet #4: Over 6.5 Total Goals

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Over 6.5 Goals

• Vegas Elite Offense
• Both Teams Allowed 6 Recently
• Offensive Firepower

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Both teams have obvious defensive concerns entering Saturday.

Columbus just surrendered six goals against Toronto.

Vegas has allowed six goals in consecutive games, losing 6-2 to Tampa Bay and 6-2 to St. Louis.

At the same time, Vegas has Eichel, Stone, Marner, Karlsson and Hertl, while Columbus counters with Fantilli, Knies, Werenski and Nichushkin.

A 4-3 result would be enough to clear the posted total.

Players to Watch

Adam Fantilli — Columbus: The centerpiece of Columbus’ young core and the center responsible for driving the Blue Jackets’ top offensive unit.

Matthew Knies — Columbus: Gives Columbus size, speed and finishing ability alongside Fantilli and Kent Johnson.

Zach Werenski — Columbus: The Blue Jackets’ most important defenseman and one of their primary offensive creators from the point.

Jack Eichel — Vegas: Entered Thursday with 18 points in 11 games and remains the centerpiece of the Golden Knights’ offense.

Mitch Marner — Vegas: Elite playmaker who had 10 assists through his first 11 games and gives Vegas another dangerous puck distributor.

Mark Stone — Vegas: Had eight goals and 15 points through 11 games and remains dangerous at both even strength and on special teams.

The Verdict

Prediction

Vegas Golden Knights 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3

Best Bets

Vegas Moneyline -135 Over 6.5 Goals Jack Eichel Over 0.5 Points — Target Line Zach Werenski Over 2.5 Shots — Target Line

Vegas enters Columbus in an unusual position after suffering consecutive 6-2 losses.

That makes the Golden Knights dangerous.

A team with Eichel, Stone and Marner is unlikely to continue struggling defensively and offensively for long, and Vegas still entered the week as one of the NHL’s highest-scoring teams.

Columbus should have opportunities. The Blue Jackets generated 37 shots against Toronto, have fresher legs and will be playing at Nationwide Arena.

The question is whether they can keep Vegas from finding its offensive rhythm.

If Columbus turns the game into a fast-paced contest, Fantilli, Knies and Werenski can keep the Blue Jackets competitive. But that style also creates opportunities for Eichel and Marner in transition.

Expect Columbus to push Vegas deep into the third period before the Golden Knights’ high-end offensive talent produces the deciding goal.

Prediction: Vegas Golden Knights 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3.

Vegas enters Saturday after consecutive 6-2 losses, while Columbus has had three full days between games following Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to Toronto. The Blue Jackets’ official schedule confirms the October 24 matchup at Nationwide Arena. Confirm final starting goaltenders, injuries and player-prop prices before wagering.