Lightning Rolling Into Columbus on a Tear, But Blue Jackets Look to Build on Momentum
Saturday, January 24, 2026 - 7:00 PM ET
Nationwide Arena - Columbus, Ohio
The Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off a gritty 1-0 shutout win over Dallas, and they’re not messing with what worked. Same lineup, same energy, and they’ll need every ounce of it tonight as they host the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning.
Let’s not sugarcoat it-Tampa is rolling. Despite being without some of their biggest names-Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, and Ryan McDonagh-the Lightning have rattled off a 14-0-1 stretch over their last 15 games.
That includes a shootout win just last night in Chicago. Tired legs?
Maybe. But this group hasn’t looked vulnerable in weeks.
By the Numbers: A Tale of Two Teams
When you break down the stats, it’s clear why Tampa sits atop both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference with 68 points. They’re second in the league in goals per game (3.45) and goals against per game (2.45). That’s elite-level balance on both ends of the ice.
Columbus, meanwhile, is still trying to find consistency. They’re averaging 2.90 goals per game (22nd in the NHL) while giving up 3.26 (23rd). That’s a tough combo when you’re going up against a team that knows how to control the pace and bury chances when they get them.
Special teams? Advantage Lightning.
Tampa’s penalty kill is second-best in the league at 84.5%, while Columbus sits near the bottom at 75.7%. Power play efficiency is a bit closer-Tampa at 20.3%, Columbus at 19.4%-but again, the edge goes to the visitors.
At 5-on-5, Tampa is dominant. They’re top-five in shot attempt share (53.5%) and unblocked shot attempts (53.2%).
They’re also leading the league in 5-on-5 shooting percentage at 11.3%. That tells you they’re not just getting chances-they’re finishing them.
Columbus is middle of the pack in most of those categories, which means they’ll need to tighten up defensively and capitalize on limited opportunities.
Star Power vs. Steady Leadership
Nikita Kucherov continues to be the heartbeat of the Lightning offense. He leads the team in goals (25), assists (49), and points (74).
Even with other stars sidelined, Kucherov’s production hasn’t missed a beat. Brandon Hagel is right there with him in goals, and Jake Guentzel has added another dangerous layer to Tampa’s attack.
For Columbus, Zach Werenski has been a steady force from the blue line. He leads the Jackets in goals (19), assists (34), and points (53).
That’s impressive production for a defenseman and speaks to how much the Jackets rely on him to drive offense. But they’ll need more than Werenski to hang with a team like Tampa.
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
Top line remains intact with Mason Marchment, Adam Fantilli, and Kirill Marchenko.
Boone Jenner centers the second line alongside Sean Monahan and Kent Johnson. The bottom six includes Cole Sillinger, Charlie Coyle, Mathieu Olivier, and a fourth line of Dmitri Voronkov, Isac Lundestrom, and Danton Heinen.
On the blue line, it’s Werenski paired with Damon Severson, Ivan Provorov with Erik Gudbranson, and Egor Zamula skating with Jake Christiansen. In net, Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins are both available.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Despite the injuries, Tampa still rolls out a dangerous top line with Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, and Kucherov.
The second line features Gage Goncalves, Dominic James, and Jake Guentzel, while Zemgus Girgensons, Yanni Gourde, and Pontus Holmberg make up a versatile third unit. The fourth line includes Oliver Bjorkstrand, Nick Paul, and Jack Finley.
On defense, J.J. Moser and Darren Raddysh take top-pair duties, followed by Charle-Edouard D’Astous with Erik Cernak, and Declan Carlile with Maxwell Crozier. In goal, Jonas Johansson and Andrei Vasilevskiy are expected to dress.
What to Watch
- **Can Columbus slow down Kucherov? ** The Lightning winger is in MVP form, and the Jackets will need to find a way to limit his time and space.
- **Can the Jackets generate enough offense? ** Tampa doesn’t give up much, so Columbus will need to be opportunistic and efficient.
- Goaltending battle: Jet Greaves was lights out in the Dallas shutout. If he gets the nod again, can he replicate that performance against a much deeper attack?
Tampa’s streak is impressive, but Columbus is looking to play spoiler-and they’ve got some confidence after blanking a strong Dallas team. If the Jackets can stay disciplined and get a few timely saves, they might just make things interesting at Nationwide Arena tonight.