Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Cole Caufield Targets a Fast Start at Bell Centre

First period

The Canadiens enter this regular-season matchup at home against the Blue Jackets with the listed competitors set as Montreal (MTL) versus Columbus (CBJ). The opening 20 minutes profiles as a tone-setting stretch for puck-line bettors because Montreal owns last change as the home qualifier in the betting slate. This Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets prediction starts with the reality that the only concrete pregame market signal available here is the matchup designation itself, which keeps early lean angles centered on venue edge rather than any confirmed recent form. The cleanest early-game betting approach stays tied to first-period execution because any in-game odds movement would most logically react to initial shot volume and special-teams time that sportsbooks typically price live.

Second period

The second period is where pricing usually tightens in live markets because the game state is more defined, and this matchup is officially tagged as a regular-season group-phase contest on the schedule. With MTL listed as the home side and CBJ as the away side, the most consistent midgame betting lens is how a home team can dictate matchups after intermission, which often impacts moneyline and regulation lines as books adjust between periods. Any line shift into the middle frame would most plausibly be driven by scoreboard leverage and goalie performance, and Montreal’s roster includes Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes as available goaltenders while injuries list key absences. The Habs’ injury report shows Kaiden Guhle is out after surgery for a partially torn abductor muscle with an 8-to-10-week timeline, while Alex Newhook, Patrik Laine, and Kirby Dach are also out on injured reserve, which can influence how bettors interpret secondary scoring depth when markets repost for period two.

Third period

The third period is typically where totals bettors focus hardest on game script, and Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets over under interest is naturally tied to whether the contest is played from in front or from behind late. Montreal’s available forward group includes Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovský, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Ivan Demidov, Jake Evans, and others, while the defense group includes Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble, Alexandre Carrier, and Adam Engstrom, which frames the pool of skaters that can swing late-game possession and net-front sequences. The most practical late wager targets are regulation-time outcomes and live totals because one-goal scenarios often compress price and create clearer hedging points than pregame numbers. For gamblers tracking match player stats, the Montreal side’s identifiable finishing threat is Caufield among the available forwards, and any live drift in price would most reasonably follow his line’s shot generation and the goaltending results behind Montreal’s available crease options.

Final betting outlook and how to watch

This NHL betting preview Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets stays anchored to what’s confirmed: Montreal is the home team, Columbus is the road team, and Montreal’s lineup availability includes several notable forwards missing time with Guhle also sidelined on the back end. If odds shift closer to puck drop, the most defensible explanation within the known facts is injury-related roster context for Montreal’s depth pieces and any resulting adjustment by the market to scoring expectations and late-game stamina. The Canadiens host the Blue Jackets on March 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, and fans can watch on ESPN plus or FDSOH. If you’re playing it, keep your bets disciplined around period-by-period game flow, and share this article with fellow Habs fans tracking the slate.