NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Los Angeles Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets Page Preview
The Los Angeles Kings visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, January 26, 2026, at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Los Angeles is 21-16-13 and living in the land of overtime and shootouts again, while Columbus is 24-20-7 and suddenly playing with real swagger as it pushes into the Eastern playoff race.
This matchup has a clear storyline and it’s not subtle. Mason Marchment is on one of those runs that changes how you handicap a team. He just put up a hat trick and an assist in an 8-5 win over Tampa Bay, and he’s scored eight goals in nine games since arriving in December. Columbus has won six of its last seven. Los Angeles is trending up too, but it’s more like “surviving and stealing points,” not “blowing teams off the ice.”
The market is tight. Columbus is a small home favorite at -116, Los Angeles is -103, and the total is 6.0. That pricing tells you the book expects a competitive game, not a track meet like Saturday, even if Columbus has been playing in higher-event spots lately.
Every Sharp Move, Every Capper, All Sports
Track professional picks, line steam, and market swings in real time.
Los Angeles Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated prices and shop numbers throughout the day using the latest NHL odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Kings | -103 | +1.5 (-261) | O 6.0 (-108) / U 6.0 (-111) |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | -116 | -1.5 (+210) | O 6.0 (-108) / U 6.0 (-111) |
Los Angeles Kings Betting Form
The Kings are quietly stabilizing after a rough patch. They just won 5-4 in a shootout in St. Louis and it mattered because they showed real pushback after mistakes. That’s been their season in a lot of ways. They can play a strong period, then have a stretch where things get loose, and then they have to claw points back late.
Los Angeles also lives in close games, maybe too many. They’ve played a ton of overtime and shootout games, and while that can be framed as resilience, it also tells you they’re not separating often. From a betting standpoint, that usually means you want to be careful laying puck lines with them, and you want to treat totals as number-driven more than narrative-driven.
There’s also an availability angle that can’t be ignored. If key top-six pieces are missing, it changes their ability to trade goals with a team like Columbus that’s feeling it right now. For recent results and trends, the Los Angeles Kings stats and results page is the quick check. Monitor the Los Angeles Kings injury report before puck drop.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Form
Columbus is playing with that loose, confident feel you see when a team is scoring and the bench is loud. The 8-5 win over Tampa was chaotic, sure, but the important part was how they responded when the Lightning pushed back. They didn’t fold. They scored again and took the game back. That matters, because a few weeks ago this team might have tightened up.
Marchment is the obvious driver, but he’s not alone. Charlie Coyle is giving them steady two-way minutes and production, and Adam Fantilli finally broke through after a long goal drought. Columbus is also generating volume, which is usually the first sign that an underdog run has some legs. You can cool off and still be competitive when you’re consistently winning shot volume.
For the full form picture, the Columbus Blue Jackets schedule and stats page helps. And because depth matters in games priced this tight, monitor the Columbus Blue Jackets injury report before betting.
Los Angeles Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is about style tension. Los Angeles wants structure and clean layers, but it has also been playing higher-scoring games lately because mistakes have crept in. Columbus is not shy about leaning into chaos right now, especially at home. If the Jackets get early momentum, they’ll press, and Los Angeles will have to manage the puck better than it did in stretches against St. Louis.
Special teams are a big swing factor here because Marchment already burned the Kings with two power-play goals in the first meeting. If Los Angeles takes penalties, it becomes difficult to trust them at a short price. At five-on-five, the Kings can still defend, and their goaltending can steal segments, but Columbus has been generating enough chances that even good defensive teams eventually bend.
A few edges I’m watching:
- Columbus’ current finishing and confidence versus Los Angeles’ tendency to play close games
- Special teams discipline, because this matchup already showed how costly penalties can be
- Pace control, since the Kings are happier in a slower game and Columbus is happier when it gets loose
If you want a sharper way to translate “style” into side and total decisions, the NHL betting guide is a solid framework for pricing pace and special teams. And for a broader market lens as teams jockey for playoff position, the Stanley Cup betting guide adds context for why certain teams keep getting priced tightly even when they’re trending.
Los Angeles Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Columbus on the moneyline at -116. It’s not a big number, and it lines up with form, confidence, and home ice. The Kings can absolutely win if they get a strong goaltending performance and keep this game from turning into a track meet, but Columbus has been forcing opponents into uncomfortable games lately. Right now, I’d rather bet the team creating the chaos than the team trying to survive it.
The total at 6.0 is interesting because Columbus just played an 8-5 game, but that doesn’t mean you blindly chase the Over. Los Angeles would prefer a slower, more controlled script, and the Kings have enough defensive structure to drag this into a tighter game if they start well. Still, the way Columbus is finishing and the way Los Angeles has been leaking goals in stretches makes me lean Over more than Under, especially if the game gets penalty-heavy.
The puck line prices are not appealing. Kings +1.5 is heavily juiced, and Jackets -1.5 is a big ask in a matchup that could still land 4-3 either way. I’m keeping it simple with the side.
Your Shortcut to the Sharp Side
Watch every verified capper’s move unfold across all major sports
Best Bet: Columbus Blue Jackets moneyline (-116).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
When games are priced close like this, your edge often comes from timing and comparison. Goalies, late scratches, and line moves matter a lot more when the moneyline is basically a pick’em. Checking today’s NHL picks lets you see how multiple handicappers are approaching the matchup before you lock in a number.
ScoresAndStats also makes it easy to keep track of what’s actually working. You can compare proven profiles across top sports handicappers, validate long-term performance on the handicapper leaderboard, and if you want more volume beyond the free board, you can buy expert picks and keep your card organized. For more daily coverage in this same format, the NHL previews hub is the quickest way to scan the slate.
