Ottawa Senators vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Predictions March 29th 2025

Ottawa Senators vs Columbus Blue Jackets March 29th 2025

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Blue Jackets versus the Senators? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON. The over/under for this Eastern conference contest is set at 6.5 goals, with the Senators being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Blue Jackets.

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Columbus vs. Ottawa Key Information

• Teams: Blue Jackets at Senators
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa
• Date: Saturday, March 29th
• Betting Odds OTT -198 | CBJ +165 O/U 6.5

The Blue Jackets Can Win If…

Columbus dropped to 33-29-9 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets’ defense struggled from the start, giving up their first goal just 56 seconds into the game and allowing five goals in the first period.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 9 goals easily surpassed that mark. Columbus, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. They managed to score their first goal 49 seconds into the second period, but the Capitals had already scored five by then.

Columbus took 36 shots on goal but only managed two scores in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson netted his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson found the net 49 seconds into the second period.

Labanc’s goal came with 5:24 left in the second period. Sean Monahan earned his 5th assist of the season, and Zach Aston-Reese picked up his 2nd. Columbus had 13 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, Columbus had a rough start, allowing five goals in the first period. They gave up another in the second and one more in the third, leading to a 7-2 loss. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves with a 68.2% save percentage, while the Blue Jackets’ defense recorded 10 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Columbus will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. Against the spread, they have gone 1-2 and logged an over-under record of 3-0 in these games.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Columbus has a record of 3-7. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 4-6 and an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Senators Can Win If…

With a 3-0 win over the Kraken, the Senators improved to 38-28-5. Ottawa, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line with the victory. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.

Each of Ottawa’s three goals came from different players. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring at 5:28 in the first period, followed by a goal from Brady Tkachuk in the second. Tim Stützle added an empty-net goal in the third to seal the win.

Ottawa’s offense produced three goals in their 3-0 win over Seattle, with Tim Stützle netting his sixth of the season on an empty net. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring with his 7th goal, while Brady Tkachuk added his 7th as well. The Senators took 23 shots on goal and recorded 11 giveaways.

Stützle also picked up his 10th assist on Tkachuk’s goal. Michael Amadio earned his second assist on Stützle’s empty-netter, and Zack MacEwen’s assist on Gaudette’s goal was his first of the season.

On the defensive side, the Senators will look to build on their last performance, where they shut out the Kraken 3-0. Anton Forsberg made 22 saves, posting a 100% save percentage, while the defense added 2 takeaways and 25 hits.

• Ottawa has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. However, they have only gone 1-2 vs. the puck line over this stretch. Their over-under record in these three games was 1-2.
• Ottawa has put together a record of 7-3 in their last ten games (regular season). In these contests, the team went just 4-6 against the spread, while going 5-3-2 on the over-under.

The Lean

If you’re considering a direct moneyline bet, the Senators is the choice to make. However, with a payout of -198, you might want to use this bet as a building block for a parlay.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Blue Jackets to cover. Even in the event of a Senators victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Blue Jackets should cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Senators Look to Maintain Wild-Card Control vs. Blue Jackets

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators aim to stay hot on home ice and extend their lead in the Eastern Conference wild-card race when they welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night in the first of three head-to-head meetings over the next 11 days.

Ottawa Riding Momentum into Key Matchup

The Senators (38-28-5, 81 points) are 8-3-0 over their last 11 games and sit six points clear of Columbus, Montreal, and the Rangers in the tight East wild-card race. With just 11 games left and a game in hand on third-place Tampa Bay, Ottawa is also within striking distance in the Atlantic Division.

Thursday’s 4-3 win over Detroit showcased Ottawa’s ability to grind out tight games. Despite taking five penalties in the opening frame, the Senators remained composed, getting goals from Thomas Chabot, Tim Stutzle, David Perron, and Michael Amadio. Goaltender Linus Ullmark made 31 saves to earn his 20th win of the season.

Ottawa owns a strong 20-10-2 record at Canadian Tire Centre and has won both home meetings vs. Columbus last season.

Tim Stutzle continues to lead the way offensively with 71 points in 71 games, including 50 assists, while captain Brady Tkachuk paces the club with 29 goals.

Columbus Looks to Build on Wild Shootout Win

The Blue Jackets (33-29-9, 75 points) pulled off a thrilling 7-6 shootout win over Vancouver on Friday night, coming back from 3-0 and 5-3 deficits to momentarily climb back into the playoff picture.

Captain Boone Jenner scored twice and added an assist, while Kent Johnson netted the shootout winner. Dante Fabbro chipped in with a three-point effort, and five different Blue Jackets had multi-point nights.

Despite the comeback, slow starts remain a concern for Columbus, as noted by Jenner after another game that began with an early hole.

Kirill Marchenko continues to be a reliable finisher with a team-high 27 goals, while defenseman Zach Werenski remains the Blue Jackets’ top playmaker with 50 assists and 70 points.

Goaltender Daniil Tarasov is expected to start on Saturday. The 24-year-old has had an inconsistent campaign, going 7-8-2 with a 3.51 GAA and an .882 save percentage in 17 starts.

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What’s at Stake

This marks the first of three season-defining clashes between Ottawa and Columbus. With both teams in the thick of the wild-card hunt, Saturday’s game could set the tone for a critical stretch.

Ottawa has a chance to solidify its lead and inch closer to clinching a playoff berth, while the Blue Jackets are looking to tighten the gap and build momentum from Friday’s rally.