The Blue Jackets vs Stars prediction starts in the crease. Dallas brings one of the league’s stingiest goaltending numbers, while Columbus has not yet settled on its man. The Stars are -190 favorites on the moneyline at American Airlines Center, and the total sits at 5.5. Dallas has dropped two straight after a five-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Columbus arrives on the back end of a three-game road swing. Below, we break down the goaltending, the special teams gap and the price before landing on two plays.
Last Updated: October 31, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Dallas Stars — Game Info
| Where | American Airlines Center, Dallas TX |
| When | October 31 – 8:00 PM ET |
| TV | Blue Jackets Hockey Network, Prime Video (Dallas market) |
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Dallas Stars Betting Preview
Goaltending frames this game. Jake Oettinger is projected for Dallas, though neither starter had been confirmed at the time of writing. He enters 6-3-1 with a 1.69 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. Still, his last outing was rough. Oettinger made only 16 saves as Montreal beat Dallas 5-2 on Thursday.
The Columbus net is less clear. Jet Greaves is listed as the projected starter, but he is 2-4-0 with a 3.29 GAA and an .883 save percentage. He also started Thursday’s 3-2 loss at Carolina. Cam Talbot won the two starts before that, both in overtime, and is a realistic option. Our read is provisional until one of them is confirmed. Greaves does have history here: he posted a shutout in the most recent meeting, a 1-0 Columbus win last January.
Dallas sits at 7-5-1, and Columbus is 5-6-0. The Stars lead the league in goals allowed per game at 2.23 and in shots allowed at 22.1 per game. However, they have conceded 10 goals across the last two games. Coach Glen Gulutzan called his team’s puck play atrocious after the Montreal loss. Esa Lindell, Radek Faksa and newly signed David Perron are candidates to return, and Gulutzan said at least one of the three will play. Matt Duchene and Kyle Capobianco remain out.
Columbus scores just 2.45 goals per game. Kent Johnson leads the team with 11 points, and Zach Werenski has 13 career points against Dallas. Columbus has also won the last three meetings, according to the Blue Jackets’ game preview. Neither team played Friday, so this is not a back-to-back for either side.
The venue splits cut both ways. Dallas is only 4-4-0 at home this season and 3-1-1 on the road. Columbus, meanwhile, is 1-3-0 away from Nationwide Arena. The schedule also sets up a quick rematch. These teams meet again on November 5 in Columbus, so neither side gets a long look at the other before adjusting.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Dallas Stars Odds
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Jackets | +1.5 (-168) | +163 | O 5.5 (-103) |
| Stars | -1.5 (+142) | -190 | U 5.5 (-117) |
Odds accurate as of October 31, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props
Blue Jackets vs. Stars Prediction — Can a 30th-Ranked Power Play Crack a 93% Kill?
The cleanest edge in this game is how little offense Columbus figures to generate. The Blue Jackets average 25.6 shots per game, and their power play ranks 30th at 13.3%. Dallas, in contrast, kills penalties at a league-best 93.5% clip. Add a team that allows the fewest shots in the league, and the Columbus path to three or four goals looks narrow. The Stars have also stayed under in 10 of 13 games this season.
The market leans the same way. The total opened at 5.5 with the under at -112, and the under price has since moved to -117 while the number held. That is a modest move, not steam. Still, it agrees with the research rather than fighting it. At -117, the break-even rate is 53.9%, and a low-event Dallas home game should clear that more often than not.
The risks are real. Dallas just allowed 10 goals in two games, so its defensive structure has slipped. If Greaves starts and his .883 form continues, the Stars can push this over without help from Columbus. Empty-net goals matter too. A 3-2 or 4-1 game can become 4-2 or 5-1 in the final minute. Overtime adds a goal to a tie, so a 3-3 game after 60 minutes would also cash the over.
The Pick: Under 5.5 (-117)
Blue Jackets vs. Stars Prediction — Three Straight Wins Over Dallas and a Lot of One-Goal Hockey
The same low-event read shapes the side, so this play is not independent of the first one. Six of Columbus’ last ten games finished within one goal, and four of them went past regulation. Dallas has played four one-goal overtime or shootout games in its last ten as well. Those are the conditions where an underdog getting a goal and a half holds up. Furthermore, the moneyline has climbed from -180 to -190 with 89% of moneyline bets on Dallas. That move follows the public, so it carries little signal and slightly improves the underdog’s price.
The case against is the price and the empty net. At -168, the break-even rate is 62.7%. Columbus also lost by three or more in three of its last ten games. If the Blue Jackets trail by one late, a pulled goalie can turn a cover into a loss. As a result, this one rates as a lean rather than a strong play.
The prop board points the same direction. The regulation-time market prices a tie after 60 minutes at +305, which implies roughly a 25% chance of overtime. That is a meaningful share for a game with a -190 favorite. Every one of those overtime outcomes covers the +1.5 regardless of who wins in the extra frame.
The Pick: Blue Jackets +1.5 (-168)
Our Final Word on Blue Jackets vs. Stars
Both picks lean on one idea: Dallas suppresses shots, Columbus struggles to score, and the game should stay tight. Before puck drop, check the goaltending confirmations, since Greaves or Talbot in the Columbus crease changes the margin for error on both plays. For more Stars context, see our Devils vs Stars prediction from earlier this week.
Under 5.5 (-117) is the top play, because a league-best penalty kill and shot suppression face one of the league’s weakest offenses. Blue Jackets +1.5 (-168) is the second play, because both teams keep producing one-goal games and the public-driven move has pushed the price toward Columbus.
NHL Blue Jackets vs. Stars FAQ: October 31, 2026
What time does the Blue Jackets vs. Stars game start?
The Blue Jackets and Stars face off at 8:00 PM ET on Saturday, October 31, 2026. That is 7:00 PM local time in Dallas. It is the first of two meetings between the teams in less than a week, with the rematch set for November 5 in Columbus.
What channel is the Blue Jackets vs. Stars game on?
Columbus viewers can watch on the Blue Jackets Hockey Network. In the Stars’ broadcast territory, the game is carried on Prime Video, which airs all non-national Dallas games in that region. The game is not on a national broadcast.
Where are the Blue Jackets and Stars playing?
The game is at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, home of the Stars. It closes a homestand for Dallas, while Columbus plays its third road game in five nights after stops in Philadelphia and Carolina earlier this week.
What are the Blue Jackets’ and Stars’ records this season?
Dallas enters 7-5-1 with 15 points, and Columbus is 5-6-0 with 10 points. Both teams lost on Thursday. The Stars fell 5-2 at home to Montreal, and the Blue Jackets lost 3-2 at Carolina.
Who won the last meeting between the Blue Jackets and Stars?
Columbus won the last meeting 1-0 in Columbus on January 22, 2026, behind a Jet Greaves shutout. The Blue Jackets have won the last three games against Dallas, including a 5-1 win in Dallas in October 2025.