NHL: Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks Picks and Odds | January 30, 2026
Written by: Nick Zanghi
Published: Fri Jan 30, 2026, 2:27 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Almost a night off in the NHL with only one game tonight, but let's get into it. The Columbus Blue Jackets will take on the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at the United Center. This is the first of two meetings between the two teams this year.
Chicago is 21-24-9 this season and are sixth in the Central Division. They come into this game on a four-game losing streak after another loss to the Penguins last night. The Blackhawks are 3-5-2 in their last ten games and 11-13-5 at home this season.
This team is still in the middle of a rebuild. Connor Bedard is showing growth, with 21 goals and 29 assists so far, leading the team in assists and points. They will still need to get some more pieces if they want to be successful, especially on the Central Division.
The Blackhawks rank in the bottom of the league for goals scored and shots on goal per game on offense. Unfortunately, they rank somewhere near the same on defense for goals allowed and shots on goal allowed per game. Their bright spot is having the best penalty in the league.
Goalie Spencer Knight will be in net tonight. He is 15-14-7 this season with a 2.58 GAA and a .910 save percentage. Knight also has three shutouts on the year.
Check out the odds for this matchup and other NHL games at the best online sportsbooks.
Columbus will look to make it four in a row tonight on the road
Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan high fives his teammates on the bench after scoring a goal.
The Blue Jackets are 25-20-7 this year and are sixth in the Metro Division. They come into this game off a win over the Flyers on Wednesday. Columbus is 7-3-0 in their last ten games and 11-12-3 on the road this season.
Like Chicago, the Blue Jackets are in an extremely tough division. The Eastern Conference is really tight this year and could give them a chance to sneak in with a late season rally. They're currently eight points out of a playoff spot.
Things are clicking right now. Columbus ranks in the bottom of the league for both goals scored and shooting percentage. They rank third in the league for shots on goal per game, but rank twenty sixth in shooting percentage, so they're all not landing on net.
Defense is where things get tricky. The Jackets rank in the bottom of the league for goals allowed and shots on goal allowed per game. They commit about four penalties per game and only kill off 76% of their penalties.
In net, we're going to see Elvis Merzlikins tonight. He is 9-8-1 this season with a 3.53 GAA and a .882 save percentage. Let's check out the odds and get into the Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks picks.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Odds and Game Information
Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks Betting Odds – January 30
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Blue Jackets | -1.5 (+160) | -150 | Over 6.5 (+110) |
| Chicago Blackhawks | +1.5 (-190) | +130 | Under 6.5 (-130) |
Odds courtesy of BetOnline – Get 55% up to $250 on your first deposit
Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks Game Information
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL
- Date: Friday January 30, 2026
- Puck Drop: 8:30 p.m. EST
- TV: CHSN, FDSOH, NHL Network
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Picks and Prediction
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard controls the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk is right in front of him.
Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks Picks and Predictions: Game Total Under 6.5 Goals (-130) Get a 55% (up to $250) Deposit Bonus on BetOnline for this pick
I think we see a snooze fest tonight. Both of these teams struggle on defense, but they do on offense as well. I do see the Jackets continuing their win streak and taking home the W in this game.
We're probably going to see a little bit of a tired Chicago team. They got worked last night vs the Penguins and allowed six goals on forty-four shots on goal. I see Columbus pressing them the same way with the shots, but they don't shoot as well as Pittsburgh so the count will be lower.
Knight is probably going to get a workout. The defense is almost nonexistent on this team, so I see the puck flying. Again, it'll all come down to how many lands on net, but we're going to ride his over saves. I think we'll see over 30 and the line is 26 for -125.
On offense, I like Kirill Marchenko to get 3 or more shots on goal. He has hit in his last three games straight, as well as his last five out of six. Marchenko is a huge part of this offense and will need to fire if they want to win.
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Nick Zanghi
Nick Zanghi is an avid hockey fan who loves to bet on the NHL Props. He has also found a liking for the WNBA. Born and raised on LI, NZ is a lifelong Islanders #isles fan and a new NY Liberty fan #LIGHTITUPNYL. When not watching or attending sporting events, he enjoys grilling and time with his wife and kids.
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