Columbus Blue Jackets vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/07/2026

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Venue:  Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Blue Jackets +100, Red Wings -120; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Blue Jackets +100, Red Wings -120; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Blue Jackets +100, Red Wings -120; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Columbus Blue Jackets:  38-27-12 (5th place, Metropolitan Division)

Detroit Red Wings:  40-29-8 (6th place, Atlantic Division)

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Columbus Blue Jackets:  3-6-1 last 10

Detroit Red Wings:  4-6-0 last 10

The Blue Jackets are entering this game with 88 points, a 38-27-12 record overall, and they are 18-16-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Winnipeg Jets in their last game, losing that one at home 2-1. Ivan Provorov scored 1 goal for them in that one. Kirill Marchenko and Mason Marchment each led the team in assists with 1 while Adam Fantilli and Boone Jenner each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Jet Greaves was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 25 shots with 23 saves and a .920 save percentage. Their offense has scored 241 goals this season averaging 3.1 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 238 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The Red Wings are entering this game with 88 points, a 40-29-8 record overall, and they are 20-15-3 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Minnesota Wild in their last game, losing that one at home 5-4. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Patrick Kane, Albert Johansson, and J. T. Compher each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Andrew Copp, Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Marco Kasper, and Simon Edvinsson each led the team in assists with 1 while Patrick Kane led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Cam Talbot was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 5 goals on 20 shots with 15 saves and a .750 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 225 goals this season averaging 2.9 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 234 goals against them allowing 3 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Red Wings listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Red Wings have looked good in their games this season with their 40-29-8 record overall, but that record has them in the bottom half of their division in the East. They have looked good on home ice though with their 20-15-3 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets have looked good in their games this season with their 38-27-12 record overall, but that record has them in the bottom half of their division in the East. They haven't been a great road team though with their 18-16-4 road record this year. Both of these teams have been in the Wild Card race over the last 2 weeks and both have been losing at the worst possible time, sliding down the standings. The Blue Jackets are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and they have been folding over the last 2 weeks with 6 losses in a row now. The Red Wings haven't looked any better as they are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games and have lost 2 games in a row now, but they have at least won a game in April and have the home advantage to help out too. They are off a tight 5-4 loss to the Wild in their last one too and the Wild are one of the best teams in the NHL, so the Red Wings will be looking to bounce back on home ice and keep their playoff hopes alive. Both teams are in the middle of a spiral, but this Blue Jackets spiral has been much worse over the last week. The Blue Jackets have also had a lot of trouble all season while the Red Wings were in a playoff spot for most of the year, being one of the better teams in their division, so look for the Red Wings to stop the bleeding here with a win on home ice and vault themselves back into this playoff race in the East. The best way to place a bet here is on the Red Wings to win this game. 

Blue Jackets Red Wings Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Tuesday, April 7, 2026 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Red Wings 4 Blue Jackets 3.

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Columbus Blue Jackets: 27-62 (-19 units) on the moneyline as a road underdog. 20-31 (-7.6 units) on the moneyline after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game. 20-38 (-13.8 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%). 20-9 OVER as a road underdog of +100 to +150.

Detroit Red Wings: 42-35 (+12.4 units) on the moneyline revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 31-28 (+5.3 units) on the moneyline after 2 or more consecutive losses. 113-112 (+7.6 units) on the moneyline against mistake free teams - opponents average 4 power plays/game or less. 33-22 OVER as a home favorite.

Columbus Blue Jackets:  D. Severson (D) Out For Season - Shoulder. D. Voronkov (LW) Out - Hand. M. Olivier (RW) Out - Upper Body. B. Smith (D) Out - Knee.

Detroit Red Wings:  M. Appleton (C) Day To Day - Upper-Body. J. Faulk (D) Day To Day - Lower-body.

“We create the second most chances on the forecheck in the entire League. Yet we want to get inside the blue line and make cute little plays against good teams that aren't working. And they're not working. So, I have to get after them. They've got to change their mindset. We're a north, hard-skating pressure team.” - Rick Bowness after his team’s loss against the Jets in their game on Saturday. 

“It hurts to not get anything out of this game. Especially on a penalty 150 feet from our net and away from the play.” - Todd McLellan after his team’s loss against the Wild in their game on Sunday. 

LW Mason Marchment

C Adam Fantilli

RW Kirill Marchenko

LD Zach Werenski

RD Denton Mateychuk

G Jet Greaves

LW Emmitt Finnie

C Dylan Larkin

RW Lucas Raymond

LD Simon Edvinsson

RD Moritz Seider

G Cam Talbot

Points: Zach Werenski (78)

Goals: Kirill Marchenko (26)

Assists: Zach Werenski (57)

GAA: Jet Greaves (2.58)

Points: Alex DeBrincat (81)

Goals: Alex DeBrincat (39)

Assists: Lucas Raymond (48)

GAA: John Gibson (2.62)

Coaches:

Columbus Blue Jackets: Rick Bowness (1st season)

Detroit Red Wings: Todd McLellan (2nd season)