Our Maple Leafs vs Blue Jackets prediction starts with a tired road team and a rested home team. Toronto hosted San Jose on Monday night and turns around to play in Columbus less than 24 hours later. The Blue Jackets sit as home favorites at -163, with the total at 6.5. Columbus has been the colder offensive team, though, and the special-teams numbers point in a clear direction. Below we break down the goaltending, the schedule and the market before landing on two plays.
Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets — Game Info
| Where | Nationwide Arena, Columbus Ohio |
| When | October 20 – 7:00 PM ET |
| TV | Blue Jackets Hockey Network, Sportsnet, ESPN+ |
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The goaltending matchup shapes this price more than anything else. Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves for Toronto on Monday, so the Leafs turn to Anthony Stolarz for the second half of the back-to-back. Stolarz is 2-1-0 through three starts, but his .875 save percentage and 3.31 goals-against average describe a slow start. Toronto recalled Artur Akhtyamov from the AHL to back up both games.
Columbus has not confirmed its starter, so this part of the read is provisional. Jet Greaves is the projected starter. He blanked the Rangers 1-0 in overtime on Saturday and carries a 2.58 goals-against average. Cam Talbot started Sunday’s game in Minnesota, a 2-1 loss, which lines Greaves up on normal rest. If Talbot starts instead, the Columbus side of the goaltending edge shrinks.
Toronto enters at 4-4-2, and two of those six non-wins came after regulation. The Leafs have scored and allowed 32 goals, so their results have been balanced. Auston Matthews leads the way with seven goals, including a power-play goal in Monday’s 3-1 win over San Jose. Kirill Marchenko, acquired from Columbus in a September trade, assisted on that goal. Rookie Gavin McKenna scored the winner, also on the power play.
Columbus is 3-4-0 and has scored only two goals across its past two games. It managed just 14 shots on goal in Minnesota. The Blue Jackets average 2.43 goals per game, while allowing 3.29. Injuries also bite on the blue line, with Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro both out. Toronto is missing John Tavares, Chris Tanev and Max Domi, and William Nylander is listed day-to-day with an illness.
The market has Columbus at -163, which implies about a 62% chance of a home win. That price leans heavily on the schedule and the goaltending gap. Toronto came into Monday on a three-game skid, and it is 1-1-1 on the road so far. On the other hand, the Leafs have been the more productive offense. The number has not budged since it opened. Bettors are split in an unusual way, with 76% of moneyline tickets on Columbus but 89% of puck-line tickets on Toronto +1.5.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Leafs | +1.5 (-190) | +137 | O 6.5 (-105) |
| Blue Jackets | -1.5 (+163) | -163 | U 6.5 (-115) |
Odds accurate as of October 20, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NHL Odds – Futures – Props
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Maple Leafs | 89% | 11% | Blue Jackets |
See the latest NHL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets Prediction — Columbus’ 68% Penalty Kill Meets a Red-Hot Toronto Power Play
Special teams are the widest gap in this matchup. Entering Monday, Toronto’s power play converted 26.67% of its chances, one of the best rates in the league. Its penalty kill sat at 96.43%. Columbus is close to the reverse, with an 11.76% power play and a 68% penalty kill, both near the bottom of the NHL. The Leafs then scored twice with the extra man against San Jose, and Matthews had one of those goals.
The volume supports the idea, too. Columbus opponents drew 25 power plays in its first seven games, roughly three and a half per night. At a 68% kill rate, Toronto should expect at least one strong chance to score with the extra man. Matthews is the focal point of that attack, with seven goals already this season. As a result, the current price implies only about a 35% chance, which looks short of his real involvement.
There is a case against it. Power-play chances are not guaranteed, and a disciplined Columbus night could leave Toronto with only one or two attempts. Early-season percentages also come from small samples and will drift. Still, this play leans on the clearest mismatch on the ice rather than on who wins a coin-flip game. It also does not depend on Stolarz holding up in net. If Greaves starts and stays sharp, he can limit even-strength scoring. Still, he cannot fix a penalty kill that has struggled in front of him.
The Pick: Auston Matthews To Record 1 Or More Powerplay Points (+185)
Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets Prediction — Stolarz Draws the Back Half of a Back-to-Back
The schedule spot is the main reason Columbus is favored. Toronto played Monday at home, and Columbus had Monday off. However, the trip is short and stays in the same time zone. Furthermore, Columbus has scored two goals over two games and ranks among the league’s lowest-scoring teams. Toronto’s price asks for only about a 42% win rate to break even. That figure also covers overtime and the shootout.
The risk is real. Stolarz has struggled, and Toronto allowed more shots per game than most teams entering the week. The market also shows no help. The number has not moved from the opener, even with 89% of puck-line tickets on Toronto +1.5. That leaves no sharp confirmation either way. On the positive side, Toronto allowed just one power-play goal in its first nine games. That removes an easy route back for Columbus in a close game. In addition, this pick leans on the same special-teams edge as the first one, so the two are not independent.
The Pick: Maple Leafs Moneyline (+137)
Our Final Word on Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets
The total of 6.5 is a closer call, and we are passing on it. Toronto games have averaged 6.4 goals, and Stolarz’s save percentage argues for the over. However, Columbus games have produced fewer goals, and the Blue Jackets have barely generated shots lately. Those inputs offset, and the under is already priced at -115. Remember that the full-game total counts overtime and the shootout, so a tie after 60 minutes adds at least one goal. With no clear edge, the two plays above carry the stronger case.
Columbus deserves some credit at home with a rested goaltender. Still, its offense has stalled and its penalty kill has leaked all season. Matthews to record a power-play point at +185 is the top play, built on Toronto’s elite power play against a 68% Columbus penalty kill. The Maple Leafs moneyline at +137 follows, since it needs only a 42% win rate against a Columbus team scoring 2.43 goals per game.
NHL Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets FAQ: October 20, 2026
What time does the Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets game start?
The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets are scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. It is the second game of a back-to-back for Toronto, which beat San Jose at home on Monday night before traveling to Columbus for this Eastern Conference matchup.
What channel is the Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets game on?
The game airs on the Blue Jackets Hockey Network in the Columbus market and on Sportsnet in Canada. Out-of-market viewers in the United States can find it on ESPN+. The Blue Jackets Hockey Network is the team’s local television home this season, carried by Spectrum and Fubo among other providers.
How can I stream the Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets game?
Fans outside the Columbus market in the United States can stream the game on ESPN+. Inside the Blue Jackets’ market, Prime Video carries the local Blue Jackets Hockey Network broadcast as a standalone subscription, and Fubo also offers the network. Local blackout rules decide which option applies to each viewer.
Who is starting in goal for the Maple Leafs?
Anthony Stolarz is starting in goal for the Maple Leafs in Columbus. Sergei Bobrovsky played Monday against San Jose, so Toronto is splitting the back-to-back between its two goaltenders. Stolarz is 2-1-0 this season with a .875 save percentage, and Artur Akhtyamov was recalled to serve as the backup.
What are the Maple Leafs’ and Blue Jackets’ records this season?
The Maple Leafs are 4-4-2 for 10 points after Monday’s 3-1 win over San Jose, which snapped a three-game skid. The Blue Jackets are 3-4-0 for six points after a 2-1 loss in Minnesota on Sunday. Toronto plays in the Atlantic Division, while Columbus plays in the Metropolitan.