Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction and Picks - December 4, 2025

National League Hockey action on Thursday evening, and we have a Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction ready to roll for you. Detroit comes in off a 5-4 home win over the Bruins to move to 14-13 on the year. The Blue Jackets are off a 5-3 win over New Jersey on the road and they are now12-14 on the year. Read on to see our Red Wings vs Blue Jackets prediction.

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Red Wings Top Bruins to Snap Skid

Detroit snapped a four‑game skid with a 5–4 win over the Boston Bruins on December 2, a game highlighted by Moritz Seider’s three‑point night and Lucas Raymond’s power‑play goal that stood as the eventual game‑winner. John Gibson made 34 saves to secure his first victory since late October, while Alex DeBrincat and James van Riemsdyk also found the back of the net. It was a gritty performance that gave the Wings some momentum heading into their six‑game road trip.

Offensively, Detroit has been steady if unspectacular, averaging 3.0 goals per game (19th) but ranking 3rd in shots at 30.4 per game. Their power play has been a bright spot at 21.6% (11th), with Raymond, DeBrincat, and Dylan Larkin driving production. Larkin leads the team with 14 goals and 16 assists, while Raymond has chipped in 20 assists to complement his scoring. The Wings also excel in the faceoff circle, winning 52.5% of draws (8th), which helps them sustain pressure in the offensive zone.

Defensively, Detroit remains vulnerable, allowing 3.4 goals per game (26th) despite limiting opponents to 26.8 shots (11th). Their penalty kill sits at 79.5% (22nd), and discipline has been a recurring issue with 311 penalty minutes (3rd most). Gibson and Cam Talbot have split duties in net, but both have struggled with save percentages below .890. For the Wings to build on their win, they’ll need to tighten up defensively and avoid costly penalties, especially against a Columbus team that thrives when it reaches three goals.

Jackets Surprise The Devils On The Road

Columbus comes in off a 5–3 win over the New Jersey Devils on December 1, where Sean Monahan scored twice and Charlie Coyle added a goal and two assists. The Jackets rallied from an early 2–0 deficit, scoring four unanswered goals before Miles Wood sealed the victory late in the third. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 30 shots, and Zach Werenski chipped in two assists to help snap a four‑game losing streak.

The Blue Jackets’ offense has been streaky, averaging 2.9 goals per game (23rd) despite ranking 4th in shots at 30.3 per game. Their power play has been a weakness at just 16.4% (24th), but Monahan’s recent surge and Werenski’s playmaking from the blue line give them hope for improvement. Werenski leads the team with 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists), while Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko have chipped in secondary scoring. Columbus also holds its own in the faceoff circle at 50.8% (13th), which helps them generate possession.

Defensively, Columbus has struggled, allowing 3.2 goals per game (23rd) and a league‑high 30.9 shots against (30th). Their penalty kill has been poor at 74.2% (28th), and they remain the only team in the NHL without a shutout this season. Merzlikins and Jet Greaves have split time in net, but both have posted save percentages under .905. Discipline has been slightly better than Detroit’s, with 219 penalty minutes (20th), but the Jackets often find themselves chasing games due to defensive lapses. Against the Red Wings, Columbus will need Werenski to anchor the back end and Monahan to stay hot if they want to build on their win and climb out of the Metropolitan Division basement.

Detroit Red Wings vs Columbus Blue Jackets Pick

Red Wings vs Blue Jackets Moneyline Pick

• Columbus -125 (4 Units)

Backing Columbus in this matchup makes sense because the Blue Jackets showed real resilience in their 5–3 win over New Jersey, rallying from an early 2–0 hole with four unanswered goals. Sean Monahan’s two‑goal night and Charlie Coyle’s steady play gave them the spark they’ve been missing, while Elvis Merzlikins turned away 30 shots to secure the victory. That kind of response after a losing streak is exactly what you want to see from a team trying to build momentum, and it highlights the Jackets’ ability to generate offense when their top players step up. With Werenski quarterbacking the attack from the blue line and Monahan finding his scoring touch, Columbus has the pieces to keep Detroit’s defense under pressure.

Detroit, meanwhile, has been shaky in its own end all season, allowing 3.4 goals per game (26th) despite limiting shots. Their penalty kill sits at just 79.5%, and discipline has been a recurring issue with 311 penalty minutes (3rd most), which could be costly against a Jackets team that thrives when given extra opportunities. Columbus isn’t perfect defensively, but Detroit’s inconsistency in net and tendency to take penalties tilt the edge toward the Jackets. If Merzlikins can hold steady and Werenski continues to drive play, Columbus has a strong chance to build on its last win and outwork a Red Wings team that has struggled to string together consistent performances.

Red Wings vs Blue Jackets Over/Under Pick

• Over 6.5 (4 Units)

The Over 6.5 feels like the right angle because both Detroit and Columbus have been giving up goals at a steady clip while still generating enough offense to push games past the number. The Red Wings average 3.0 goals per game but allow 3.4 (26th), and their penalty kill sits at just 79.5%, which leaves them vulnerable in special‑teams situations. Columbus isn’t far behind, scoring 2.9 goals per game while surrendering 3.2 (23rd), and their penalty kill has been one of the league’s worst at 74.2%. With both teams ranking top‑five in shots per game — Detroit at 30.4 and Columbus at 30.3 — the volume is there to create chances, and neither defense has shown the ability to consistently shut the door. That combination of shaky goaltending, high shot totals, and penalty‑kill issues makes the Over 6.5 a strong play in this matchup.