Detroit Red Wings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: NHL Stadium Series Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

A bumper 90,000-plus crowd - the second largest ever for an NHL game - will head to Ohio Stadium Saturday night for a crunch clash in the Eastern Conference play-off race.

Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings are tied for the first Wild Card spot in the east, and the home side go into the game as favorites having beaten the Wings 5-2 in Michigan on Thursday.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets betting picks and predictions

Columbus Blue Jackets Money Line (-115)

The Blue Jackets could have been forgiven for underperforming this season following the death of their top scorer Johnny Gaudreau and his brother while out cycling in August. However, the team have defied all expectations and are on course to make the play-offs for the first time since the 2019/20 season.

They go into Saturday's clash on a three-game winning streak having beaten Detroit 5-2 on Thursday and with the Metropolitan Division's second-placed team, Carolina, only six points ahead, the Jackets have their sights set on grabbing a higher seeding.

Columbus have suffered more than their share of injury issues, and lost second-line center Cole Sillinger to an upper-body injury in the first period on Thursday. But captain Boone Jenner recently returned after missing 56 games.

Kirill Marchenko is another recent returnee from a spell on the sidelines, and he put the icing on the cake on Thursday with an empty-netter. The Jackets have won six of the last seven games Marchenko has played in, while losing all three that he missed during his recent absence.

The Red Wings are aiming to make the play-offs for the first time in nine years, and they are going along nicely with nine wins in their last 12.  However, four of their last six wins have come in overtime or via a shootout.

Detroit have gone 17-6-2 since Todd McLellan took over as head coach on December 26 and they boast the second-ranked powerplay in the league.

However, Columbus sits fifth in the league in goals scored per game on 3.32 while the Red Wings' 2.88 ranks only 18th.

The Blue Jackets are also far superior at even-strength, with a +15 5v5 goal differential, compared to Detroit's  -18 and Columbus could just overpower them as they did on Thursday.

Over 6.5 goals (+100)

Columbus have scored 16 goals in their three games since the international break, including five on Thursday, and they could account for most of the Total quote by themselves.

Four of Detroit's last six games have also featured at least seven goals, with the other two witnessing five and six.

Meanwhile, the last four meetings between these teams have seen goal totals of seven, nine, six and nine.

It could be a bitterly cold night at the Horseshoe, but that won't necessarily lead to a low-scoring game. The last five outdoor NHL games have generated 60-minute goal totals of eight, 10, nine, three and seven.

The way these teams play, we can expect a physical encounter, which should only be enhanced by their positions in the play-off picture, and a high goals total looks likely.

Boone Jenner at least one point (+100)

Blue Jackets captain Jenner made his seasonal debut only after the 4 Nations break following shoulder surgery in October, but he has already made an impact in his three appearances.

The 31-year-old contributed assists in a 5-1 win over Chicago and 6-4 success against Dallas and was on fire against the Red Wings on Thursday.

Switching from the left wing to center to replace the injured Sillinger from the first period, Jenner fired seven shots on goal and registered three assists in the game.

His freshness could be a huge asset to the Jackets at the this stage of the season and he can keep his points streak going in front of Saturday's huge crowd.

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Detroit Red Wings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets odds

Detroit Red Wings	-105 ML
Columbus Blue Jackets	-115 ML
Puck Line	CLB Blue Jackets -1.5
Total	O/U 6.5

Detroit Red Wings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Dylan Larkin (DET Red Wings)	+140
Alex DeBrincat (DET Red Wings)	+180
Lucas Raymond (DET Red Wings)	+180
Adam Fantilli (CLB Blue Jackets)	+190
Kirill Marchenko (CLB Blue Jackets)	+190
Dmitri Voronkov (CLB Blue Jackets)	+210

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.