Toronto Maple Leafs @ Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Game Preview: Prediction & 4 Prop Bets

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM ET Location: Nationwide Arena — Columbus, Ohio Tickets: As low as $24 Moneyline: Columbus Blue Jackets -162 Over/Under: 6.5

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction & Matchup Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to Nationwide Arena on Tuesday night in one of the most intriguing early-season matchups on the schedule.

Beyond the two points in the standings, this game carries an obvious additional storyline because of the blockbuster trade the clubs completed just before opening night.

Columbus sent Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins to Toronto for Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a 2027 second-round pick.

That means Knies gets his first opportunity to face his former club as a Blue Jacket, while Marchenko returns to Nationwide Arena wearing a Maple Leafs sweater.

Both players have already made significant impacts for their new teams.

Knies exploded for two goals and an assist in his Columbus debut, helping the Blue Jackets defeat Buffalo 6-3 on opening night.

Marchenko has been equally dangerous for Toronto. He produced a hat trick against Buffalo on October 15, although the Maple Leafs ultimately squandered a 4-2 lead and lost 5-4 in overtime.

Columbus enters Tuesday with some momentum after a dramatic 1-0 overtime victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Kent Johnson scored the winner with 1:34 remaining in overtime, while Jet Greaves stopped all 29 shots for his fifth career shutout. Johnson’s goal was his third consecutive game with a goal.

That defensive performance was especially important for a Columbus club that had allowed 11 goals over Greaves’ previous four appearances.

Toronto presents a much different offensive challenge.

The Maple Leafs can build their attack around Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Marchenko, but injuries have weakened their depth.

Veteran center John Tavares is week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered against Buffalo. Tavares had already produced seven points through seven games.

Defenseman Chris Tanev is also week-to-week because of an upper-body injury.

Those absences help explain why Columbus enters as a substantial -162 home favorite despite Toronto’s star power.

🔥 Top 4 Expanded Prop Bets

Player prop availability and lines can change before puck drop. Confirm the final lineups, starting goaltenders and sportsbook markets before wagering.

Prop Bet #1: Zach Werenski Over 2.5 Shots on Goal

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Werenski Over 2.5 Shots

• Heavy Minutes
• Power-Play Role
• Offensive Defenseman

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Werenski remains the engine of the Columbus attack from the blue line.

His combination of heavy minutes, power-play usage and willingness to jump into the offensive zone gives him multiple avenues to generate shots.

Toronto’s lineup still possesses enough offensive talent to force Columbus to attack rather than simply protect the middle of the ice.

Werenski was also involved in Johnson’s overtime winner against New York, continuing to influence games even when he does not score himself.

Three shots is a reasonable target.

Lean: Zach Werenski Over 2.5 Shots on Goal.

Prop Bet #2: Auston Matthews Over 3.5 Shots on Goal

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Matthews Over 3.5 Shots

• Elite Shooter
• Increased Offensive Responsibility
• Power-Play Threat

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With Tavares sidelined, even more offensive responsibility falls on Matthews.

Few players in hockey are more dangerous when given shooting opportunities, and Toronto needs its captain to drive the offense against a Columbus team coming off a shutout.

Matthews scored in Toronto’s 5-4 overtime loss to Buffalo, showing again how quickly he can turn possession into offense.

Expect Toronto to funnel possessions toward Matthews whenever possible.

Lean: Auston Matthews Over 3.5 Shots on Goal.

Prop Bet #3: Over 6.5 Total Goals

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Over 6.5 Goals

• Elite Scorers
• Toronto Defensive Injuries
• Offensive Upside

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Columbus’ 1-0 win over New York might point bettors toward the under, but Toronto creates a completely different matchup.

The Maple Leafs recently played a nine-goal game against Buffalo, with Marchenko scoring three times and Matthews adding another.

Columbus also possesses considerably more offensive ability than Saturday’s score indicates.

Knies, Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Valeri Nichushkin and Werenski can all create scoring opportunities.

Toronto being without Tanev also weakens a defensive group that will have to handle Columbus’ aggressive forecheck.

A 4-3 type of game is very realistic.

Lean: Over 6.5 Total Goals.

Prop Bet #4: Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline -162

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Columbus -162

• Home Ice
• Toronto Injuries
• Strong Defensive Performance

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The price is significantly higher than in Columbus’ previous games, but there are reasons the Blue Jackets are favored.

Columbus is at home, just shut out the Rangers and faces a Toronto lineup missing Tavares and Tanev.

Greaves’ rebound performance was particularly encouraging.

If Columbus receives another solid goaltending performance, its forward depth could become the deciding factor.

Lean: Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline -162.

Players to Watch

Matthew Knies — Columbus: The former Maple Leaf will be one of the night’s biggest stories. Knies already has a three-point performance in a Columbus uniform and should be highly motivated against his former club.

Kent Johnson — Columbus: Johnson enters after scoring in three consecutive games, including Saturday’s overtime winner against the Rangers.

Adam Fantilli — Columbus: Fantilli centers Columbus’ top line and gives the Blue Jackets a dangerous combination of skating, size and finishing ability.

Zach Werenski — Columbus: Columbus’ most important defenseman contributes in every situation and should play major minutes against Toronto’s best forwards.

Kirill Marchenko — Toronto: Marchenko’s return to Columbus creates the night’s most fascinating individual storyline. His recent hat trick against Buffalo demonstrates how dangerous he has already become for Toronto.

Auston Matthews — Toronto: Still the player Columbus must account for on every shift. His release can change a game instantly.

William Nylander — Toronto: With Tavares unavailable, Toronto needs Nylander to help carry an even greater portion of the offensive workload.

Keys to the Game

Columbus Blue Jackets

Pressure Toronto’s defense: With Tanev unavailable, Columbus should aggressively attack Toronto’s defensive pairings.

Stay disciplined: Matthews, Nylander and Marchenko remain dangerous enough to punish unnecessary penalties.

Use Knies around the net: His combination of size and skill can create problems for his former teammates.

Build on Greaves’ shutout: Columbus will be difficult to beat if its goaltending approaches Saturday’s level.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Get Matthews shooting: Toronto needs its superstar controlling possessions and generating chances.

Replace Tavares’ production: Losing a player who had seven points through seven games creates a major hole in the lineup.

Contain Columbus’ top line: Knies, Fantilli and Johnson present a difficult mix of size, speed and creativity.

Handle the emotion: Marchenko’s return will attract attention, but Toronto cannot allow the trade storyline to distract from the game itself.

The Verdict

Prediction

Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 3

Best Bets

Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline -162

Over 6.5 Total Goals

Zach Werenski Over 2.5 Shots on Goal

Auston Matthews Over 3.5 Shots on Goal

Tuesday’s matchup has considerably more intrigue than a normal October game.

Knies faces Toronto for the first time since the blockbuster trade, while Marchenko returns to Nationwide Arena after immediately becoming an important part of the Maple Leafs offense.

Toronto still has enough star power to make this extremely competitive. Matthews, Nylander and Marchenko give the Maple Leafs three dangerous offensive weapons even without Tavares.

The difference should be Columbus’ depth, home ice and Toronto’s injury situation.

The Blue Jackets are also coming off their best defensive performance of the young season, with Greaves stopping all 29 Rangers shots.

Expect a much more offensive game Tuesday. Toronto should break through multiple times, but Columbus’ deeper lineup eventually creates the decisive opportunity.

Final Score Prediction: Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 3.

Confirm starting goaltenders, final injury reports and available sportsbook prop markets before wagering. Toronto’s injuries to John Tavares and Chris Tanev are particularly important variables entering puck drop.