Columbus Blue Jackets vs Dallas Stars Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 31 2026
Dallas has won every game this season when it scores at least three goals. Six games, six wins.
Columbus is 1-2 on the road.
That gives you a pretty good idea of why I’m taking the Stars on Saturday. I know Dallas has some injuries, and the Blue Jackets have been competitive in close games. But the Stars have more dependable scoring, and I trust them to finish their chances at home.
Columbus visits American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday, October 31, with puck drop at 8 PM ET. I couldn’t verify a reliable current moneyline or total, so I’m keeping the selections straightforward. Dallas is my side, and I’m leaning toward the Under at a reasonable number. Get ready for all of the NHL action with our free NHL picks.
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Columbus Blue Jackets Need More Than Close Games
Columbus is 5-6, including 1-2 on the road. The Blue Jackets have been competitive, especially in tight games, going 3-1 in contests decided by one goal. That’s encouraging. But it doesn’t change the fact that they’ve lost more games than they’ve won, and traveling to Dallas isn’t an easy way to fix that.
The Blue Jackets have had trouble generating consistent offense. They can score when their top forwards get good looks, but they haven’t been getting enough production throughout the lineup. Dallas has been better defensively, and I think Columbus could spend long stretches trying to create chances from the outside. That’s not where you want to be against a good goaltender.
Kent Johnson has six goals and four assists through ten games, giving Columbus ten points from one of its most dangerous forwards. Charlie Coyle has eight points, including seven assists, and Zach Werenski has eight assists from the blue line. Adam Fantilli has four goals. That’s enough talent to make Dallas work. But Ivan Provorov is out with a lower-body injury, and Isac Lundestrom is sidelined with an Achilles problem. Losing Provorov hurts the defense, especially against Dallas’s top forwards.
Dallas Stars Have the Better Scoring Options
Dallas is 7-5-1, including 4-3 at home. The Stars haven’t been completely consistent, but they’ve shown what happens when their offense gets going. They’re 6-0 in games where they score at least three goals. That’s the number I like. Dallas doesn’t need to win a defensive battle every night. It just needs enough chances for its best players.
The Stars have been getting solid production from their top lines, and the defense has generally done a good job limiting quality chances. Jake Oettinger gives Dallas an advantage in goal when he’s playing well. Columbus has some dangerous forwards, but the Blue Jackets haven’t been scoring consistently enough to make me worry about a five-goal outburst.
Mikko Rantanen has six goals and eight assists through 12 games, giving Dallas 14 points. Jason Robertson has five goals and eight assists, while Roope Hintz has five goals and five assists. That’s a pretty good group to throw at a Columbus defense missing Provorov. Dallas does have injuries of its own. Matt Duchene, Radek Faksa, Esa Lindell, Kyle Capobianco and Oskar Bäck are unavailable, while Sam Steel is day-to-day. Those absences hurt the depth, but the Stars still have enough top-end scoring to win.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Dallas Stars Picks and Predictions
Dallas Stars Moneyline
I’m taking Dallas. Columbus can keep games close, and that 3-1 record in one-goal contests tells you the Blue Jackets won’t necessarily go away quietly. But Dallas has the better scoring options, a stronger home record and a goaltender I trust. The Stars have won every game in which they’ve scored three or more goals. Against this Columbus defense, I think they get there. Give me Dallas in a fairly tight one.
Under 6.5 Goals — Target Total
I’d look Under 6.5 if that’s the number available. Dallas has been better defensively than Columbus, and Oettinger can make life difficult for a team that isn’t generating a ton of offense. The Stars should get their chances, but I don’t necessarily expect a wild game. The concern is Dallas’s power play or a few Columbus defensive mistakes turning this into a 5-2 result. But I think something around 3-2 or 4-2 Dallas is more likely. Both stay under 6.5.
Final Picks: Dallas Stars Moneyline and Under 6.5 Goals (target total)
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