Panthers vs Blue Jackets Prediction, Picks & Odds (Oct 13)
By SportsHub Model · Edited by Kyle Parker ·
Last updated: October 13, 2026 | Odds checked: October 13, 2026, 3:36 PM ET
The Florida Panthers (2-2-2) visit the Columbus Blue Jackets (2-2-0) tonight at Nationwide Arena. The NHL lists a 6:15 p.m. ET start (puck drop around 6:25) on local TV only. Columbus is -128 to -135 on the moneyline, total 5.5 to 6. Florida is on a back-to-back without Aleksander Barkov or Brad Marchand. Our pick: Blue Jackets moneyline (-130), medium confidence.
Panthers vs Blue Jackets Odds
| Market | Panthers | Blue Jackets |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | +105 to +114 | -128 to -135 |
| Puck line | +1.5 (-222 to -244) | -1.5 (+176 to +190) |
| Total 5.5 | Over -133 to -135 | Under +110 to +114 |
At -130, Columbus implies about 56.5%. A couple of books hang 6 instead (Over -108 to -110). The total has come down: some books had 6.5 this morning and now sit at 5.5.
Panthers: Short-Handed on a Back-to-Back
Florida has scored 2.0 goals per game (28th) and allowed 2.83 (16th), per NHL.com. The power play is the problem: 9.4% (28th). The penalty kill sits at 74.1% (24th).
The Panthers lost 5-3 at Buffalo on Monday night and 4-1 at home to Minnesota on Saturday. Three of their six games have gone to overtime: a 1-0 win at Carolina and losses at San Jose (4-3) and Anaheim (3-2).
The roster is thin up front. Barkov was hurt Oct. 1 and is out 6-8 weeks, and Marchand is out about six weeks with a lower-body injury, per NHL.com. Matthew Tkachuk carries the offense with 3 goals and 5 points.
In goal: Akira Schmid is expected to start the second half of the back-to-back, per Daily Faceoff. He is 0-1-1 with a 4.14 GAA and .868 save percentage. Starter Jacob Markstrom (2-1-1, 2.03, .904) gets the night off.
Blue Jackets: Rested and Winning Draws
Columbus averages 3.0 goals per game (17th) but allows 3.5 (24th). The power play runs at 20.0% (15th) and the penalty kill at 75.0% (22nd). The Blue Jackets lead the NHL in faceoffs at 58.6%.
They lost 5-3 at St. Louis on Saturday, a night after a 3-2 shootout win over Pittsburgh. They opened with a 6-3 win over Buffalo and are 2-1-0 at home.
Charlie Coyle leads the team with 4 assists, and Kent Johnson has 2 goals.
In goal: Cam Talbot is confirmed. He is 1-0-0 with a 1.85 GAA and .909 save percentage in his only start.
Key Matchup: Columbus Power Play vs Florida's Kill
| Stat | Panthers | Blue Jackets |
|---|---|---|
| Goals/game | 2.0 (28th) | 3.0 (17th) |
| Against/game | 2.83 (16th) | 3.5 (24th) |
| Power play | 9.4% (28th) | 20.0% (15th) |
| Penalty kill | 74.1% (24th) | 75.0% (22nd) |
| Faceoffs | 48.0% (22nd) | 58.6% (1st) |
Columbus has the better power play by more than 10 points and the league's best faceoff rate. That matters on special teams, where clean draws start possessions. Florida's two goals a game don't leave much room for a backup goalie with an .868.
Injury Report
| Team | Player | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLA | Aleksander Barkov | C | IR (lower body) |
| FLA | Brad Marchand | LW | IR (lower body) |
| FLA | Jonah Gadjovich | LW | IR (upper body) |
| CBJ | Ivan Provorov | D | IR (lower body) |
| CBJ | Conor Garland | RW | Day-to-day (illness) |
Hottest NHL Handicapper: Keylor Santos
One name sits on top of both NHL boards on SportsHub. Keylor Santos leads the 15-day board by net profit and the 7-day board too:
| Window | Record | Win % | Net ($) | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29–Oct 13 | 22-8 | 73.3% | +$1,301 | 35.6% |
| Oct 7–Oct 13 | 6-2 | 75.0% | +$380 | 38.8% |
That's a hot start that has held up over a bigger sample. See where he ranks on our handicappers page.
Panthers vs Blue Jackets Prediction
Our pick: Blue Jackets moneyline (-130), medium confidence.
- The model sees value. It gives Columbus 62%, above the 56.5% that -130 implies.
- Fatigue and the goalie swap. Florida played Monday in Buffalo. It turns to Schmid (.868) instead of Markstrom (.904), while Columbus has been off since Saturday.
- Florida can't score. The Panthers average 2.0 goals a game with a 9.4% power play, and they're missing Barkov and Marchand.
- Columbus controls the puck. A 58.6% faceoff rate and a power play running at 20.0% give the Blue Jackets the edge on special teams.
The risk: Columbus allows 3.5 goals a game, and Talbot has one start this season. A Florida team that has gone to overtime three times can drag this to a coin flip.
Projected score: Blue Jackets 4, Panthers 2.
For more, see today's NHL picks, the NHL hub, our handicapper leaderboard and the latest weekly picks results.
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