Archive note: Technical commentary has been removed. This remains historical pregame coverage; original selections have been retained where stated.

The Los Angeles Kings travel to Columbus for a matchup against the Blue Jackets on March 09, 2026, in what shapes up as an intriguing contrast between a team searching for consistency and one riding a hot streak.

Team Form & Recent Performance

Columbus enters this contest as the clear favorite on paper, sitting at 7-1-2 with three wins in their last five games. The Blue Jackets have established themselves as one of the league's steadier performers, combining elite consistency with recent momentum. They're moving in the right direction at precisely the right time in the season.

Los Angeles presents the opposite narrative. At 3-6-1, the Kings are struggling through a difficult stretch, though there's a silver lining: they've won two of their last five games, suggesting they may be turning a corner. With no back-to-back games for either team, both squads should be well-rested and ready to execute their systems. This eliminates one variable that could otherwise favor the Blue Jackets.

The Kings need this type of matchup against a quality opponent to build confidence and establish identity. Columbus, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain their elite form and continue padding their record in the competitive March schedule.

This aligns with their recent two-game winning streak and indicates they're creating more dangerous opportunities than their record reflects.

This suggests both teams are controlling play at roughly equal rates, with neither dominating possession in a significant way.

Goalie Matchup

Darcy Kuemper takes the net for Los Angeles with a 15-13-9 record, while Jonathan Greaves gets the start for Columbus at 20-12-7. Greaves holds a clear advantage in wins and appears to be the more reliable option this season, backing up Columbus's strong team record. Kuemper, meanwhile, is operating with a negative record, though his recent performances have been solid as the Kings won two of their last five.

This goalie matchup favors Columbus on paper, with Greaves representing a higher-performing netminder in a superior system.

Prediction

According to WP Hockey Predictor, the Columbus Blue Jackets are favored to win this matchup with a Confident rating, compared to the Los Angeles Kings.

The Blue Jackets' consistency and Jonathan Greaves's strong performance this season give them the edge, though this remains a competitive game where the Kings could absolutely steal a victory. For NHL picks, this represents a slight lean toward Columbus rather than a dominant pick, reflecting the underlying competitive balance.

Want to run your own analysis on this Kings Blue Jackets pick? Run your own prediction with WP Hockey Predictor's calculator and explore how different variables shift the odds.