The Ottawa Senators (13-13-4) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (13-12-6) at Canadian Tire Centre in a pivotal Atlantic-Metro matchup, as both teams jockey for wildcard positioning in their respective conferences. Ottawa, snapping a three-game skid with a 4-3 win over New Jersey on Tuesday, looks to leverage its high-octane offense (3.41 GPG, 4th in NHL) against a Blue Jackets squad that’s won three of four but struggles on the road (4-8-3). Columbus enters off a 2-0 shutout of Washington, buoyed by Daniil Tarasov’s .960 SV%, but faces Ottawa’s lethal power play (23.1%, 3rd). With key absences on both benches, this projects as an up-tempo, special-teams showcase—expect Columbus’ grit to grind out a 4-3 upset victory in a game that screams over.
Venue Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario (capacity: 18,652). The Senators are 7-5-3 at home this season, generating 3.7 GPG in Ottawa, and have covered in six of their last nine against Metro Division teams.
Puckdrop: 7:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast on TSN5 (Canada), Bally Sports Ohio (U.S.), and ESPN+ nationally, with radio on 104.7 FM (OTT) and 97.1 FM (CBJ).
Injury Report
Injuries are thinning both rosters, particularly in net and on the wings, forcing Ottawa to recall prospects and Columbus to shuffle lines. Senators’ Linus Ullmark returns from IR, while Blue Jackets’ Merzlikins sits with a minor tweak. Latest from Thursday morning skates:
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Senators | Josh Norris | C | Out (IR) | Shoulder | LTIR since Oct.; 0 GP this season, major scoring loss (17G-20A last year). |
| Senators | Radek Faksa | C | Out | Lower Body | Missed last two; 1G-2A in 20 GP. Depth hit. |
| Senators | Lee Staios | D | Day-to-Day | Upper Body | Limited skate; rookie with 0G-3A in 15 GP. |
| Senators | Linus Ullmark | G | Available | None | Returns from IR; starts (7-5-2, 2.78 GAA pre-injury). |
| Senators | Brady Tkachuk | LW | Available | None | Full go; team-high 15G-14A. |
| Blue Jackets | Elvis Merzlikins | G | Out | Groin | Minor tweak; out 1-2 weeks (2-3-1, 3.45 GAA). Tarasov starts. |
| Blue Jackets | Sean Kuraly | C | Out (IR) | Knee | Sidelined since Nov.; 2G-4A in 18 GP. Bottom-six void. |
| Blue Jackets | Jake Christiansen | D | Out | Lower Body | IR since Dec. 5; 1G-5A in 22 GP. Blue-line depth strain. |
| Blue Jackets | Kirill Marchenko | RW | Day-to-Day | Upper Body | Limited; 10G-8A, questionable for top line. |
| Blue Jackets | Daniil Tarasov | G | Available | None | Starts; 5-4-2, 2.41 GAA after shutout. |
| Blue Jackets | Boone Jenner | C | Available | None | Full practice; 11G-12A, captain’s return boosts morale. |
Ottawa’s forward depth holds with Tkachuk/Batherson, but Norris’ absence caps secondary scoring; Columbus’ net stabilizes with Tarasov.
Player Matchups
These head-to-heads pit Ottawa’s skill against Columbus’ structure, with faceoffs (OTT 52%, CBJ 49%) and PP opportunities crucial:
Senators LW Brady Tkachuk vs. Blue Jackets D Zach Werenski
Tkachuk (15G-14A, +6 rating) bullies nets with physicality (1.8 hits/game), facing Werenski’s offensive D (5G-18A). Tkachuk has 4 goals in last five home; Werenski’s shot block (1.5/game) limits chaos.
Blue Jackets C Boone Jenner vs. Senators C Tim Stützle
Jenner (11G-12A) wins draws (53%) and grinds cycles, matched against Stützle’s speed (9G-22A). Jenner scored vs. OTT in October; Stützle’s edgework generates 2.9 SOG/game.
Senators RW Drake Batherson vs. Blue Jackets LW Johnny Gaudreau
Batherson (12G-11A) thrives on PP one-timers, drawing Gaudreau’s playmaking (6G-16A). Batherson has multi-points in 3 of 5 vs. CBJ; Gaudreau’s vision exploits gaps.
Blue Jackets G Daniil Tarasov vs. Senators Top Line (Tkachuk-Stützle-Batherson)
Tarasov (2.41 GAA) faces OTT’s unit (1.8 goals/game), facing 31.4 team SOG. He’s .960 in last start; line’s pressure tests rebound control.
Senators G Linus Ullmark vs. Blue Jackets RW Yegor Chinakhov
Ullmark (2.78 GAA) battles Chinakhov’s rush (8G-7A); Chinakhov has 3 goals in last six road. Ullmark’s .912 SV% vs. top-15 attacks is solid.
Columbus’ balance edges even strength, but Ottawa’s PP could swing it.
Team Records
Ottawa Senators: 13-13-4 (6th in Atlantic Division)
7-5-3 at home, averaging 3.41 GPG (4th) while allowing 3.12 (21st). PP 23.1% (3rd), PK 80.4% (22nd); +0.29 goal differential, 15-15 ATS.
Columbus Blue Jackets: 13-12-6 (7th in Metropolitan Division)
4-8-3 on road, averaging 2.98 GPG (16th) and allowing 3.45 (27th). PP 19.8% (10th), PK 78.2% (27th); -0.47 goal differential, 14-17 ATS.
Columbus holds season series tiebreaker (1-0 after 5-2 win Oct. 17).
Recent Team Forms
Ottawa’s 1-2-2 skid ended with a gritty win, averaging 3.6 GPG during. Columbus has won three of five (13 GF, 11 GA), with Tarasov’s starts key (3-1, 1.75 GAA).
| Senators Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| vs. NJD | Dec 9 | Home | W 4-3 | Ullmark (return) 28/31 saves; Tkachuk 2G, 2/4 PP. |
| @ TOR | Dec 7 | Away | L 2-5 | Forsberg .875 SV%; 0/3 PP, outshot 34-26. |
| vs. DET | Dec 5 | Home | L 3-4 | Forsberg .882 SV%; Stützle 1G-1A, late collapse. |
| @ BUF | Dec 3 | Away | OTL 4-5 | Ullmark .870 SV%; Batherson 1G, 1/5 PP in high-event. |
| vs. MTL | Dec 1 | Home | SOL 3-4 | Forsberg .929 SV%; Tkachuk GWG, shootout loss. |
Form Notes: 1-2-2, outscored 15-17. Home 1-0-1 (+1 margin); PP 25% last five.
| Blue Jackets Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| vs. WSH | Dec 9 | Home | W 2-0 | Tarasov 39/39 shutout; Werenski 1G, 0/4 PP. |
| @ PIT | Dec 7 | Away | L 1-4 | Merzlikins .806 SV%; 0/2 PP, defensive woes. |
| @ NYR | Dec 5 | Away | W 3-2 | Tarasov .941 SV%; Jenner 1G-1A, clutch road win. |
| vs. NJD | Dec 3 | Home | W 5-2 | Merzlikins .913 SV%; Gaudreau 2A, 2/3 PP feast. |
| @ BOS | Dec 1 | Away | L 3-4 OT | Tarasov .882 SV%; Chinakhov 1G, OT heartbreaker. |
Form Notes: 3-1-1, outscored 14-12. Road 1-1-1 (+0.3 margin); Tarasov 2-1, .950 SV% last three.
Series History
All-time, Ottawa leads 35-28-3-2 (regular season: 32-26-3-2), but Columbus has won four of the last six (avg 6.5 goals/game). Most recent: Oct. 17, 2025 (CBJ 5-2 OTT). In Ottawa, Senators are 18-14-2 all-time vs. Jackets, but CBJ took the last two visits (4-3, 6-2 in 2024). Overs in seven of 10 (avg 6.3 goals), driven by weak PKs. Second of three meetings this season; playoff history even (1-1 series).
Betting Trends
Moneyline: 71% bets/77% handle on Senators (public on home fave). OTT 8-6 SU as -140+ faves; CBJ 4-9 SU road dogs.
Puck Line: 59% bets on CBJ +1.5 (value), 62% handle on Senators -1.5 amid OTT’s 6-3 home cover streak. Jackets 7-6 ATS road.
Total: 64% bets on Over 6.5 (82% handle), as seven of 10 series over and combined 6.53 GPG. Under in five of Columbus’ last eight road.
Key Trends: Senators 7-3 SU last 10 home; Jackets 5-2 ATS as road dogs. Sharps on Over with weak PKs.
Game Odds
Ottawa Senators – 115
Columbus Blue Jackets 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 10, 2025
