1. Game Overview
The Calgary Flames travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets in an inter-conference matchup on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The game is scheduled for 7:10 PM EST at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The contest can be viewed on ESPN+, fuboTV, and Prime Video.
2. Team Form and Analysis
Calgary Flames: The Flames enter this game with a record of 19-22-4. They are in a positive stretch of form, having won four of their last five games. Their most recent victory was a 2-1 decision against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Calgary has demonstrated a balanced attack this season, but their primary challenge has been inconsistent performance on the road. Key players for the Flames include center Mikael Backlund and forward Nazem Kadri, who drive the offense. In goal, Jacob Markstrom remains the primary netminder, providing a veteran presence.
Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets hold a record of 19-19-7. The team is entering a new phase, as this will be the first game under new head coach Rick Bowness after the organization parted ways with Dean Evason. Columbus is coming off a 3-2 overtime victory in their last outing and has a record of 4-5-1 over their last ten games. The team will look for a potential boost in performance from the coaching change. Offensive production is often led by forward Johnny Gaudreau, who will be facing his former team, and young center Adam Fantilli.
3. Injury Report
The Calgary Flames list two players as day-to-day:
- Blake Coleman (C) – Upper Body
- Zayne Parekh (D) – Upper Body
The Columbus Blue Jackets have one player on their report:
- Denton Mateychuk (D) – Upper Body, listed as Day-to-Day
4. Standings & Trends Analysis
Calgary Flames:
- Overall Record: 19-22
- Home Record: 12-7
- Away Record: 7-15
- Puck Line Record: 26-19 (11-13 Away)
- Over/Under Record: 26-19 (14-10 Away)
Calgary has struggled significantly on the road this season, with a 7-15 record away from home. However, they have been a strong team against the puck line overall, indicating they often outperform spread expectations. Their games have trended towards the over, particularly in road matchups where the over has hit in 14 of 24 games.
Columbus Blue Jackets:
- Overall Record: 19-19
- Home Record: 9-7
- Away Record: 10-12
- Puck Line Record: 22-23 (6-14 Home)
- Over/Under Record: 23-22 (10-10 Home)
The Blue Jackets have a winning record at Nationwide Arena but have been one of the league’s worst teams against the puck line on home ice, with a 6-14 record. This suggests they frequently fail to win by a margin of two or more goals when favored at home. Their Over/Under results have been balanced, sitting at .500 for home games.
5. Betting Odds Breakdown
The moneyline for this game has the Columbus Blue Jackets as the favorite at -142, with the Calgary Flames as the underdog at +118. This means that a bettor would need to wager $142 on the Blue Jackets to win $100. Conversely, a $100 wager on the Flames would return a profit of $118 if they win the game. These odds imply that oddsmakers have calculated a higher probability of a Columbus victory.
6. Prediction
The Columbus Blue Jackets are favored, largely due to their home-ice advantage and the potential for a surge in performance under their new head coach. Their path to victory involves leveraging the energy in the building and exploiting a Flames team that has a poor 7-15 record on the road. If the Blue Jackets can establish their forecheck and play a structured defensive game, they can control the pace and secure the win.
However, the Calgary Flames present significant value as the underdog. They are the team in better recent form, winning four of their last five contests. The most compelling trend is Columbus’s 6-14 record against the puck line at home, which demonstrates a clear pattern of struggling to meet expectations in their own arena. While Calgary’s road record is a concern, their strong overall puck line performance (26-19) shows they are competitive in most games. Given Calgary’s recent momentum and Columbus’s documented issues with winning convincingly at home, the Flames have a clear path to an upset.
Prediction: Calgary Flames 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only. All betting information is provided for informational purposes and is not a recommendation to wager.
Sources:
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames hockey Head To Head …
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Calgary Flames History
Blue Jackets Record Vs Flames Game Log | StatMuse
PREVIEW: Blue Jackets head north of border to face Calgary …
Blue Jackets Name Chris Clark Monsters … – Cleveland Monsters
PREVIEW: Blue Jackets begin Bowness era by hosting Flames …
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NHL.com Media Site – News – NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup …
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Elite Prospects NHL Team Head to Head pages – Elite Prospects