Florida Panthers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Tuesday October 13 2026

Florida's visit to Columbus is one of the more difficult favorites-and-underdogs puzzles on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets are home favorites despite both teams entering with uneven starts, and the Panthers are playing the second night of a back-to-back after losing 5-3 in Buffalo. Columbus is 2-2-0, Florida 2-2-2. Florida's depleted forward group makes it tempting to dismiss the visitors, but its established defensive corps and plus-money price create a different argument.

The Panthers no longer have their preferred center hierarchy with Aleksander Barkov sidelined by a knee injury and Brad Marchand also unavailable. They are still capable of building heavy possessions, however, with Sam Bennett skating between Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe appearing on a separate unit with Sam Reinhart. Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad drive the first defense pair, and Seth Jones provides puck movement behind them. That structure matters when a team must win with fewer fully healthy scoring options.

Columbus can counter with a potent young top line of Matthew Knies, Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson. Knies arrived from Toronto before the season and gives the Blue Jackets a different net-front profile. Zach Werenski can run offense from the back end, while Sean Monahan supplies veteran support. Columbus should be able to attack tired Florida legs if it plays quickly through the neutral zone instead of relying exclusively on stationary offensive-zone cycles. The home team is favored for clear reasons, particularly against a visitor playing twice in two nights.

Goaltending requires careful handling. Florida's projected lineup lists Akira Schmid and Jacob Markstrom, and the club expects Schmid after Markstrom exited Monday with tightness. Columbus confirmed Cam Talbot for the start, with Jet Greaves also on the depth chart. Florida's lineup absences include Barkov, Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich; Columbus is without Dante Fabbro, Ivan Provorov and Isac Lundestrom, while Conor Garland is a game-time decision because of illness. Those missing Columbus defenders create a real opportunity for Florida's veteran forwards to find space.

Florida's cleanest route is to make the contest physically demanding without letting it turn into repeated odd-man rushes. Bennett and the Tkachuk brothers can attack the crease and draw defensive attention, leaving the Panthers' second wave room to shoot. Columbus prefers its young forwards to make plays at speed. If Werenski can skate into open ice, the Blue Jackets' offense becomes far harder to contain. Florida must make each Columbus entry require extra work rather than allowing Fantilli and Knies to attack the middle unopposed.

The Panthers' special-teams approach deserves particular attention. Florida's physical forwards can draw penalties by keeping the puck in contested areas, and an effective power play would lessen the impact of their reduced five-on-five scoring depth. Columbus must stay disciplined and allow its faster forwards to work against a defense that played Monday. A close score after two periods could also favor whichever club handles its goaltending transitions better. With Schmid potentially playing behind a tired team, Florida would prefer fewer unblocked shots even if it means creating fewer chances of its own.

Earlier Tuesday prices had Florida +117 and Columbus -129. A later sportsbook quote showed Florida around +114 and the Blue Jackets near -135, a modest strengthening of the home side. At that range, the market already accounts for Florida's missing stars and short turnaround. The Panthers need not be expected to win most of the time for a plus-money wager to offer a reasonable payoff; they need their remaining core to keep the game close and convert a handful of high-quality chances.

There is substantial downside. A second consecutive game with uncertainty in goal is not an ideal environment for the visiting underdog, and the Jackets can generate a heavy early push at home. Florida also cannot rely on its usual offensive depth to recover from a two-goal deficit. The defense pairings need to limit rebounds, and Schmid must make the routine saves. If Florida falls behind and starts trading chances, Columbus becomes the likelier winner; the bet works best in a measured, physical matchup.

The Panthers are a narrow underdog selection because the road price compensates for their personnel risk and the healthy defensive pieces give them an avenue to survive. Expect a tight contest decided by special-teams execution or one of Florida's experienced finishers. Florida 3-2 is the preferred game shape, not a projection of offensive dominance. Anyone unwilling to accept the backup-goalie volatility should avoid shortening the plus-money price; the betting value is tied closely to the return available.