Vegas Golden Knights vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 03/13/2025

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, March 13, 2025

Venue:  Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  VGK -160, CBJ +135; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  VGK -160, CBJ +135; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  VGK -160, CBJ +135; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Vegas Golden Knights:  38-19-7 (1st place, Pacific Division)

Columbus Blue Jackets:  31-25-8 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Doc’s Sports is on a HOT STREAK in the NHL on a 6-1 NHL RUN for +$5,160 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Vegas Golden Knights:  7-2-1 last 10

Columbus Blue Jackets:  5-4-1 last 10

The Golden Knights are entering this game with 83 points, a 38-19-7 record overall, and they are 14-12-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins in their last game, losing that one on the road 3-2 in overtime. Pavel Dorofeyev and Noah Hanifin each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Pavel Dorofeyev, Noah Hanifin, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone each led the team in assists with 1 while Pavel Dorofeyev led the team in shots on net in that game with 7. Ilya Samsonov was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 17 shots with 14 saves and a .824 save percentage. Their offense has scored 215 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 177 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The Blue Jackets are entering this game with 70 points, a 31-25-8 record overall, and they are 20-6-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the New Jersey Devils in their last game, losing that one on the road 5-3. Mathieu Olivier led the team in goals scored with 2 while Kirill Marchenko scored 1 goal for them in that one. Adam Fantilli, Boone Jenner, Kent Johnson, Denton Mateychuk, and Zach Werenski each led the team in assists with 1 while Mathieu Olivier and Zach Werenski each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Elvis Merzļikins was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 5 goals on 28 shots with 23 saves and a .821 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 217 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 213 goals against them allowing 3.3 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Blue Jackets listed as an underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Blue Jackets have looked good in their games this season with their 31-25-8 record overall which has them in 4th place of their division in the East and in a Wild Card spot. They have looked great on home ice this season with their 20-6-4 home record. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have looked really good in their games this season with their 38-19-7 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the West and in a playoff spot. They haven't been a good road team though with their 14-12-4 road record. They have been really hot lately as they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, but they lost some of their momentum with 2 losses in a row now. They are coming off a loss to a terrible Penguins team in their last one and their road troubles are going to be a factor in this game since the Blue Jackets have been so good on home ice all season. The Blue Jackets haven't been hot lately as they are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and coming off a loss to the Devils in their last one, but they will be looking to bounce back at home. The Blue Jackets are also playing with more urgency since they are right in the thick of the Wild Card race, holding down the last spot by just a few points. The Golden Knights have been hot, but they have struggled a lot more in their last 2 games and the Blue Jackets can take advantage of the way they have struggled in their road games all season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Blue Jackets to win this game. 

Golden Knights Blue Jackets Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, March 13, 2025 (7:00 pm ET start time) is CBJ 5 VGK 4.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Vegas Golden Knights Columbus Blue Jackets prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NHL predictions and previews.

Vegas Golden Knights: 153-104 (+16.3 units) on the moneyline in all games. 69-36 (+25.7 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss versus opponent as a favorite. 94-70 (+16.8 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 37-29 OVER on the road after playing a road game.

Columbus Blue Jackets: 82-144 (-20.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 19-38 (-11.2 units) on the moneyline off a road blowout loss by 3 goals or more. 43-88 (-10.6 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 17-10 OVER off a road loss against a division rival.

Vegas Golden Knights:  W. Karlsson (C) Day To Day - Lower Body. R. Lavoie (C) Out - Upper Body. S. Theodore (D) Out - Arm.

Columbus Blue Jackets:  C. Sillinger (C) Out - Upper-body. S. Monahan (C) Out - Wrist. E. Gudbranson (D) Out - Shoulder. K. Labanc (RW) Out For Season - Upper Body.

“They make a good play. We kind of read the play wrong and we leave a dangerous player open in front, and they buried it. It’s a good play by them, give them credit.” - Bruce Cassidy after his team’s loss against the Penguins in their game on Tuesday.

"Obviously, they're known to be a team that capitalizes early in their building and we didn't do a good job tonight of countering that. I think we were a little too stubborn at times. We had times in the game where we were accomplishing what the game plan was and we didn't stick to it. We were stubborn in making decisions out there and it cost us." - Mathieu Olivier after their loss against the Devils in their game on Tuesday.

LW Victor Olofsson

C Jack Eichel

RW Mark Stone

LD Nicolas Hague

RD Alex Pietrangelo

G Ilya Samsonov

LW Dmitri Voronkov

C Adam Fantilli

RW Kirill Marchenko

LD Zach Werenski

RD Dante Fabbro

G Elvis Merzlikins

Points: J. Eichel (78)

Goals: T. Hertl (27)

Assists: J. Eichel (58)

GAA: A. Hill (2.60)

Points: Z. Werenski (69)

Goals: K. Marchenko (25)

Assists: Z. Werenski (49)

GAA: E. Merzlikins (3.04)

Coaches:

Vegas Golden Knights: Bruce Cassidy (3rd season)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Dean Evason (1st season)