Vegas Golden Knights vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Saturday October 24 2026

Vegas travels to Columbus on Saturday after a rough stretch against two opponents with very different styles. The Golden Knights lost 6-2 to Tampa Bay earlier in the week and followed that with a 6-2 defeat at St. Louis on Thursday.

Columbus has its own problems, having allowed six goals to Toronto and struggled to string together complete defensive performances. The meeting at Nationwide Arena offers a chance for one club to regain control, but the betting question is which defensive issues are more likely to correct quickly.

Vegas still has more established scoring talent and lineup depth than its two recent results suggest. The Golden Knights can create off the cycle and through the rush, and the key to a recovery is keeping the puck in favorable areas instead of allowing quick turnovers at the offensive blue line.

Their defense cannot afford another game where chasing offense creates easy odd-man chances for the opponent. The club needs longer possession shifts and fewer trips back into its own end after unnecessary risks.

Columbus enters with a 3-5 record and has not been strong enough at defending the middle of the ice. Toronto’s 6-2 win exposed that vulnerability, particularly when the Blue Jackets were forced to turn and defend dangerous rushes.

Columbus can still pressure opponents through forechecking and active defensemen, but its margin for error shrinks when the other team has more options for finishing a play. Against Vegas, the Blue Jackets need more support from their forwards on the backcheck and cleaner exits under pressure.

The Golden Knights have been using Carter Hart in goal, while Columbus has leaned on Jet Greaves; both remain tentative until official pregame announcements. The goalie matchup matters because a fast Columbus start could capitalize on a Vegas group still smarting from consecutive blowout losses.

Vegas should try to make the Blue Jackets’ defensive pairs absorb sustained pressure before settling for long-range attempts. A few early clean-zone possessions would help remove some of the urgency that can lead to overaggressive decisions.

The most important tactical issue is Vegas’s ability to move the puck east-west in the attacking zone without leaving its defense exposed. Columbus has struggled when an opponent shifts the point of attack quickly and forces low defenders to move across the crease.

Vegas is built to exploit that sort of sequence, but only if it keeps a responsible third forward high. The road team has to resist a track meet where both sides exchange rushes simply because its forwards are eager to end the losing streak.

An earlier market snapshot had Vegas near -128 and Columbus around +106. The later DraftKings comparison offered Golden Knights -135, with other books slightly higher. The shift does not transform this into an overwhelming favorite, but it still gives Vegas a playable number below the usual -150 ceiling.

The alternative Blue Jackets upset price is understandable, yet backing the home side requires confidence that its defensive coverage will improve substantially against an opponent capable of creating chances from several lines.

Expect Vegas to be more patient than it was during the losses to Tampa Bay and St. Louis, taking advantage of the Blue Jackets’ defensive breakdowns without forcing a wide-open race. Columbus should have enough puck pressure to make the first two periods competitive. The Golden Knights, however, are better equipped to find a second scoring line and create the late chance that separates a tied game from a two-goal finish.

The way Columbus handles Vegas’s pressure on defensive-zone retrievals is another important indicator. An uncontrolled rim or missed first pass creates extra offensive possessions against the home team, and Vegas can use those repeated entries to fatigue a pairing. If the Golden Knights can turn puck pressure into several long shifts rather than merely more shots, the road favorite should be in position to take the game by the final horn.

Best Bet: Vegas Golden Knights moneyline (-135). Vegas is positioned to rebound by making Columbus defend extended possessions rather than trading repeated rushes. The Golden Knights are vulnerable when they chase the game recklessly, so the selected side depends on a more disciplined performance than the losses against Tampa Bay and St. Louis. Columbus can create chances at home, but its defensive coverage has been loose enough that Vegas should find several quality openings. Prediction: Vegas 4, Columbus 2. A late empty-net goal would be a plausible way for the visitors to create the final two-goal margin without making this a routine win.