Free Pick: Stars vs. Blue Jackets Odds
Looking for Dallas Stars vs. Columbus Blue Jackets free NHL predictions? NHL betting sees the Stars taking on the Blue Jackets on 1/22 at Nationwide Arena, in Columbus. This free NHL pick is based on matchup analysis and documented handicapping data tracked by CappersPicks since 2004, with a focus on identifying the strongest betting angle for this Stars Blue Jackets matchup.
2026 NHL Handicapping – Dallas Stars vs Columbus Blue Jackets
(28-13) Dallas Stars vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (22-20)
Date: Jan 22, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
NHL Moneyline Odds: Stars -123 | Blue Jackets +104 (Bet Now!)
Today’s NHL Puck Line Betting Odds: Stars -1.5 | Blue Jackets +1.5
NHL Hockey Gambling Total: O/U: 6.5
Here’s why I’m backing a Columbus ML bet below in my Stars Blue Jackets free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
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Stars vs. Blue Jackets Gameday
Dallas heads into Nationwide Arena with a 28-13-9 record, sitting second in the Western Central. Columbus is 22-20-7 and trying to stop the skid in the Eastern Metropolitan.
The Stars are coming off that 6-goal outburst against Boston, and it’s the kind of pop that can travel if the forecheck shows up early. Jason Robertson and Justin Hryckowian were part of the push, but Dallas still has to clean up the stretches where the game tilts the other way.
Columbus is coming off a 1-4 loss to Ottawa, and the defensive leaks have been loud lately. They did squeeze out a tight one over Pittsburgh before that, so the level is in there, but it hasn’t stayed there.
One mistake swing, one hot goalie, and this building gets real loud fast.
Columbus took the earlier head-to-head this season, while Dallas looked sharper in the Bruins win and wants that same pace again. These spots often come down to who controls the middle of the ice when legs get heavy.
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Dallas Stars vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds & Last 5
The market leans Dallas with a MoneyLine of -123, while Columbus sits at +104. On the puck line, Dallas is -1.5 at +195 and Columbus is +1.5 at -242, so the numbers are basically asking for a tight game.
Dallas just hung six on Boston, but the Tampa Bay game is the other side of the coin, a 1-4 loss where they couldn’t find clean looks. That kind of swing is why live momentum matters more than season-long averages in matchups like this.
Columbus dropped the 1-4 decision to Ottawa last time out, and it looked like one bad sequence turned into two.
They followed the Pittsburgh win with that loss, which fits the current theme: solid flashes, then a reset.
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Blue Jackets Stats
Columbus has won four of the last five, including the 4-1 win over Vancouver, and that’s a good reminder of what they look like when the first line is driving play. The 4-1 loss to Ottawa in the most recent game still shows how thin the margin is when coverage breaks down.
Zach Werenski sets the tone with 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists), and Kirill Marchenko has chipped in 41 points as another steady threat. When those two are rolling, Columbus can keep pressure on the right side of the ice and draw penalties.
They’re generating looks, ranking 4th with 1,489 shots on goal, and the physical game is there with 948 hits (20th). Blocks sit 19th, and that combo usually plays better at home when you can dictate matchups.
In net, Elvis Merzlikins has 478 saves in 18 games, while Jet Greaves has handled more volume with 867 saves in 33 games.
Goaltending like this can keep an underdog live even when the shot chart isn’t pretty.
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Stars Stats
Dallas has been bouncing between strong finishes and flat nights, and the 6-2 win over Boston was the best version of them. The losses to Tampa Bay and Utah Mammoth are the warning signs, because when the backcheck slips, the game gets expensive fast.
Jason Robertson is pacing the offense with 29 goals and 29 assists in 50 games, and Mikko Rantanen adds another layer with 19 goals and 44 assists. When those two are clicking, the Stars can turn a single neutral-zone turnover into a quick grade-A chance.
Miro Heiskanen brings the two-way value with 32 assists and 90 blocks, and Esa Lindell’s 109 blocks in 50 games is the kind of detail work that matters late. Those little stops are often what decide puck-line outcomes.
Jake Oettinger has 19 wins in 32 games, with Casey DeSmith backing him up across 19 appearances, and they’ve kept Dallas steady even without a shutout.
If Dallas limits second chances, their scoring depth usually shows up.
Dallas Stars vs. Columbus Blue Jackets bottom line: Dallas brings the higher ceiling, Columbus needs cleaner defense to stay on script.
Dallas Stars vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Betting Trends
- Columbus has won 4 of their last 5 games.
- Also, the Blue Jackets have gone over the total in 3 of their last 5 games.
- Last season, the Blue Jackets had a straight-up record of 25-46-11.
- Dallas has lost 3 of their last 5 games.
- Additionally, the Stars have gone under the total in 3 of their last 5 games.
- Last season, the Stars had a straight-up record of 47-21-14.
Stars Blue Jackets Free Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets ML +104
Here is my Stars Blue Jackets free pick: I’m backing Columbus on the moneyline.
Columbus has been playing with real confidence lately, winning four of its last five and doing damage offensively. Three of those games cleared the total, which usually means they’re dictating pace instead of reacting.
That kind of momentum shows up more clearly at home.
Dallas hasn’t been as sharp over the same stretch, dropping three of its last five and struggling to generate consistent offense. Their recent unders point to games where scoring hasn’t come easily.
In reality, that’s a tough profile when you’re facing a team pushing the action.
This feels like a spot where Columbus’ energy carries more weight than Dallas’ caution.
At the end of the day, the Blue Jackets have been comfortable trading chances, especially when they get the first push.
Dallas prefers tighter games, but falling behind usually forces them out of that shell. Once Columbus settles in, they don’t hesitate to press for more. For one thing, the Stars haven’t shown much pushback when games tilt against them.
This number doesn’t require dominance, just another steady home effort.
All in all, Columbus at +104 lines up well with current form and the situational edge.
Today’s NHL Free Pick
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NHL Betting Tweet Of The Day
GAME 1,000 FOR CHARLIE COYLE!!!!!
📺 Watch LIVE on @FanduelSN_CBUS
🎧 Listen live: @971thefan & the CBJ App
📝 https://t.co/LOryLfrF6a
⏰ 7:00 PMCBJ x @ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/mBHYRYW2rK
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 22, 2026
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