The Columbus Blue Jackets, with 88 points, visit the Detroit Red Wings, also with 88 points, for the first of three straight road games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets visit Detroit with both teams sitting on 88 points.
Columbus is 49-52-1-15 all-time against the Red Wings, and 21-28-0-8 all-time in Detroit as they begin a three-game road trip through the Atlantic Division. Columbus is coming off a 2-1 loss to Winnipeg.
The Red Wings are 40-29-8 overall, and 4-6-0 in their last 10. Detroit has lost two straight and sits sixth in the Atlantic Division. Columbus is 38-27-12, with a 3-6-1 record in their last 10, and have lost three straight. The Blue Jackets are fifth in the Metro.
By the Numbers
Columbus has earned points in 18 of its last 22 games against the Atlantic Division dating back to Apr. 8, 2025 (13-4-5). The Blue Jackets rank second in the NHL in scoring first (46) and fourth in first-period goals (79). Since Jan. 11, the Jackets have points in 25 of 33 contests (20-8-5) ranking third in the league in goals-against per game (2.61) and fifth in points percentage (.632) over that stretch. They’ve earned points in 10 of their last 14 road games, ranking fifth in the league in points percentage since Jan. 11 (9-4-1, .679).
The Blue Jackets lead the NHL with a franchise-record 57 goals from defensemen in 2025-26 (57-133-190).
Player Notes
Adam Fantilli has set single-season career highs with 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points in 77 games. Jet Greaves has earned points in 15 of his last 19 starts (12-4-3, 2.34 GAA, .913 SV% in 20 GP), ranking fifth among goaltenders in GAA and seventh in save percentage since Jan. 11 (minimum six games played).
Kirill Marchenko has assists in three of the past four games (1-4-5) and is the fifth player in Blue Jackets history with 25-plus goals in consecutive seasons (31 in 2024-25; 26 in 2025-26). Mason Marchment has assists in each of his past three outings (1-4-5) and has 2-5-7 in his last six games. He ranks second on the team in goals since making his CBJ debut on Dec. 20, 2025 (14-14-28 in 34 GP).
Zach Werenski, with 21-57-78 in 70 games in 2025-26, sits two assists shy of tying the franchise's record for assists in a single season set by Artemi Panarin (79 GP in 2018-19) and matched by the defenseman in 2024-25 (81 GP). He's also two points away from becoming the third American-born defenseman in NHL history with consecutive 80-point campaigns (Brian Leetch, 1990-91 - 1991-92 with NYR; Phil Housley, 1991-92 - 1992-93 with WPG).
Stats Comparison
The Blue Jackets power play operates at 19.5% (21st in the NHL), while their penalty kill is at 76.3% (27th). Columbus has scored 236 goals (18th) and allowed 234 (22nd). The Red Wings' power play is at 22.0% (13th), and their penalty kill is 77.3% (25th). Detroit has 223 goals for (22nd) and 231 against (12th).
Series History
Columbus has earned points in four straight meetings against Detroit (3-0-1) and five of the last six (3-1-2). The Blue Jackets have earned points in three consecutive road games (1-0-2) and five of the past six at Little Caesars Arena (3-1-2). Since the 2012-13 campaign, the Blue Jackets are 30-13-5 against Detroit after going 19-39-11 from 2000-12. The road team has recorded points in 10 of the last 12 games of the series dating back to Apr. 9, 2022 (7-2-3). The teams have combined for seven or more goals in 13 of the past 16 contests, including the last seven straight.
The winning team has scored four or more goals in 16 consecutive games since May 7, 2021, and in 18 of the last 20 in the overall series dating back to Mar. 2, 2021. Five of the past six games at Detroit have been decided by a single goal with three decided in overtime (CBJ; 1-2). CBJ has scored a power play goal in five of the past six meetings overall (6-of-13; 46.2 percent).
Who To Watch
Alex DeBrincat leads the Red Wings with 39 goals and 81 points. Lucas Raymond leads Detroit with 48 assists. Goalie John Gibson is 28-20-3 with a save percentage of .904. Boone Jenner has 29 points in 35 games against the Red Wings. Zach Werenski has 25 points in 27 games. Charlie Coyle has 14 points in his career against Detroit.
Injured for Columbus are Brendan Smith (lower body, out for the rest of the regular season), Damon Severson (upper body, out for the season), Dmitri Voronkov (upper body, week-to-week), and Mathieu Olivier (upper body, out for the season). The Blue Jackets have lost 198 man-games to injury.
Werenski needs just two assists to tie Artemi Panarin's franchise record. Considering he has 57 assists so far this season, he is well-positioned to do so.
Tonight's game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network, and on the radio at 97.1 The Fan.
