Panthers vs. Blue Jackets Fantasy Preview: Tkachuk’s Shot Volume Meets Werenski’s Power-Play Edge

Matthew Tkachuk enters Tuesday’s Florida Panthers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets matchup with 26 points in 18 games. Zach Werenski has 14 points in 15 games and averages more than 28 minutes of ice time. Those numbers make them two of my most interesting DFS options for November 10, but Brady Tkachuk’s shot volume could be the difference-maker.

Through managing our site’s hockey pools and playing in dynasty leagues, I’ve learned that fantasy value often comes from deployment rather than a player’s reputation. Shot volume, power-play opportunities, ice time and the opposing coach’s defensive matchups help determine which players deserve premium DFS salaries.

Florida enters this game after losing 4-1 to Boston on Sunday, despite producing 41 shots. Brady Tkachuk recorded eight of them, while Matthew added five. Columbus, meanwhile, has a dangerous first power-play unit quarterbacked by Werenski. My approach is to prioritize these repeatable opportunities rather than simply chasing goals from the previous game.

Florida Panthers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Game Time, TV and Streaming

• Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
• Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
• Away team: Florida Panthers (9-7-2)
• Home team: Columbus Blue Jackets (7-8-0)
• United States: ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+
• Canada: Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ (subscription and regional restrictions may apply)

Visit our NHL TV schedule guide for additional broadcast information. This is the second meeting between the teams this season. Florida won the October 13 matchup 7-3, although that result should not be treated as a reliable prediction of Tuesday’s scoring total.

Panthers vs. Blue Jackets Injury Report: Who Is Available November 10?

Florida remains without several important forwards, while Columbus has received encouraging updates on two players injured against Buffalo. These statuses reflect reporting available November 8, not confirmed Tuesday-night lineups.

Injury sources: NHL.com lineup reports, Monahan’s November 8 update and Voronkov’s November 8 update.

What the Injuries Mean for Fantasy Hockey

Barkov’s absence matters because Florida’s center depth has less flexibility. Sam Bennett is centering Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, while Sam Reinhart has handled significant offensive responsibilities on another scoring line. The Panthers continue to rely heavily on their established first power-play unit, creating correlated fantasy value even when the even-strength combinations change.

Columbus presents a different situation. Monahan was injured blocking a shot on November 6 but said Sunday he expected to play Tuesday. Voronkov has also been cleared to return. I would not automatically promote replacement players into my DFS lineup before seeing the confirmed Columbus lines.

Panthers vs. Blue Jackets Betting Odds: Moneyline, Puck Line and Total

Available November 8 quotes suggest a close matchup. The following moneyline and puck-line figures come from Kalshi exchange-derived listings, not a verified traditional sportsbook consensus. Prices can move substantially before Tuesday’s puck drop.

The 5.5-goal reference is from an exchange-market listing, not a confirmed sportsbook line. Check the latest market comparison and exchange quotes before publication or making a wager.

My betting-market takeaway for DFS: The near-even moneyline outlook reduces the appeal of paying a premium for either goalie solely for a victory bonus. I’d rather identify skaters with measurable ice-time, shot and special-teams advantages.

Florida Panthers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets DFS Picks: Best Players to Start and Fade

Florida’s Tkachuk Line Offers Two Different Fantasy Paths

Florida’s top combination has featured Brady Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk. Brady is the direct-shot threat, Bennett works through the middle and Matthew supplies much of the line’s playmaking.

Matthew has four goals and 22 assists through 18 games. For DFS purposes, that is a reminder not to judge him only by his individual goal total. His first-unit power-play deployment alongside Brady, Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe and Seth Jones puts him in position to collect assists on scoring chances created by several different shooters.

Brady provides another route to fantasy production. He has 10 goals, 20 points and 66 shots in 18 games, including eight shots against Boston on Sunday. In a scoring format that rewards shots on goal, that repeatable activity is attractive even without a goal.

Columbus Can Counter Through Werenski and Its Top Power Play

The Blue Jackets have recently used Matthew Knies, Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson together, although Columbus also moved Monahan onto the top line during Friday’s game. That makes the Tuesday morning skate particularly important before locking in a full even-strength stack.

Werenski is the piece I trust most for a stable fantasy role. His season workload exceeds 28 minutes per game, and he quarterbacks a first power-play group featuring Fantilli, Knies, Johnson and Denton Mateychuk.

That group can produce points even when Columbus struggles to generate sustained five-on-five pressure. Werenski’s ability to collect shots, assists and blocked shots gives him multiple scoring paths in formats that reward peripheral categories.

The Rest Advantage Could Influence the Third Period

Florida plays its third game in four nights after visiting Washington on November 7 and Boston on November 8. Columbus has not played since November 6.

I won’t automatically downgrade every Panther because of the schedule. However, tired legs can translate into missed defensive assignments, penalties and extended defending shifts. That makes Columbus’s first power-play unit more interesting, particularly for a tournament lineup that needs a differentiated scoring combination.

Columbus has averaged roughly 26 shots per game this season, so I am not projecting an automatic high-volume outing for Florida’s goalie. The better approach is to separate shot-floor skaters from goalies whose value depends more heavily on the result.

Start ‘Em: My Top DFS Targets for November 10

• Zach Werenski, Columbus — Start / Cash and GPP: With 14 points in 15 games and approximately 28 minutes of average ice time, Werenski is my preferred Columbus building block. His PP1 usage, shot creation and potential block bonuses create a comparatively stable fantasy floor. The ceiling rises if Florida takes unnecessary penalties.
• Brady Tkachuk, Florida — Start / Shot-Volume Target: Brady’s eight-shot performance Sunday reinforces his aggressive shooting role. At 66 shots through 18 games, he is producing approximately 3.7 shots per contest. I prefer him in contests that assign meaningful points to shots and goals.
• Matthew Tkachuk, Florida — Start / GPP Stack: Matthew’s 26 points, premium power-play exposure and ability to generate assists make him an appealing tournament play. Pairing him with Brady offers both even-strength and special-teams correlation. Check their combined salary before committing to a full stack.
• Carter Verhaeghe, Florida — Conditional Value: Verhaeghe scored Florida’s lone goal against Boston, converting on the power play. He can be an attractive alternative to an expensive Tkachuk stack because he shares first-unit power-play exposure with Matthew, Brady, Reinhart and Jones. His value depends on Tuesday’s salary and confirmed deployment.
• Kent Johnson, Columbus — Tournament Alternative: Johnson has 16 points in 15 games and has been part of Columbus’s first power-play unit. If his salary is meaningfully lower than the game’s headline stars, he provides access to Werenski’s distribution and the Blue Jackets’ offensive upside.

Sit ‘Em: Two DFS Plays I Would Avoid

• Cole Schwindt, Florida — Fade: Schwindt has been deployed in a lower-lineup role, without the established PP1 opportunity available to Florida’s top scorers. In standard DFS contests, his lower offensive involvement makes it difficult to justify a roster spot unless salary constraints or a confirmed role change materially improve his value.
• Garnet Hathaway, Florida — Fade in Scoring-Heavy Formats: Hathaway can contribute hits, but he is not an established member of the Panthers’ premier scoring or power-play units. I would only reconsider him in a format where physical categories carry enough value to outweigh limited point-production opportunities.

My preferred DFS construction: Start with Werenski as the defensive anchor, then choose between Brady’s shot floor and Matthew’s assist upside. In tournaments, consider a Matthew Tkachuk–Brady Tkachuk combination or a Columbus power-play mini-stack built around Werenski and Johnson, subject to site salaries.

Matthew Tkachuk vs. Zach Werenski: 2026-27 Fantasy Player Comparison

These are different-position players, so this comparison is about fantasy opportunity rather than a direct positional ranking. The statistics reflect completed games through November 8 for Florida and November 6 for Columbus.

Matthew Tkachuk vs. Zach Werenski: Who Has the Better Fantasy Hockey Matchup?

Matthew carries the stronger raw points-per-game rate. Werenski offers more time on the ice and a defenseman’s opportunity to accumulate value across several categories.

I lean Werenski in a balanced DFS build where shots and blocks are rewarded, while Matthew becomes more attractive when I want to concentrate upside into Florida’s first power-play unit. Those preferences can reverse if site pricing creates a significant value gap.

For broader player comparisons, visit our NHL points leaders and fantasy hockey projections.

Projected Starting Goalies: Jacob Markstrom vs. Jet Greaves

Florida: Jacob Markstrom — Projected, Not Confirmed

Markstrom made 32 saves on 36 shots in Florida’s 4-1 loss to Boston on Sunday. His performance illustrates why raw save volume and DFS success are not the same. A goalie can face substantial pressure yet lose valuable points through goals allowed and the absence of a win.

Columbus is averaging approximately 26 shots per game, which makes Markstrom’s save ceiling less obvious than it was against Boston. If the Blue Jackets produce limited offense, he could be a useful result-dependent selection, but I would not automatically treat him as a cash-game lock.

Columbus: Jet Greaves — Projected, Not Confirmed

Greaves has appeared in nine games with an .880 save percentage and a 3.36 goals-against average. His most recent start came against Buffalo on November 6, when he surrendered five goals in a 5-2 loss.

The attraction is save opportunity. Florida generated 41 shots against Boston and has multiple elite power-play threats. If the Panthers sustain that level of shooting, Greaves could accumulate useful saves. However, the likelihood of conceding several goals is a meaningful tournament risk.

My goalie preference: Markstrom has the more attractive opponent shot-suppression scenario, while Greaves has greater potential save volume. Neither should be finalized until the starting goalie is confirmed and DFS prices are available.

Check the November 10 starting goalie tracker before lineup lock.

My Final Panthers vs. Blue Jackets Fantasy Prediction

Florida’s offensive ceiling is higher when its top power-play unit is operating efficiently, but Columbus has the rest advantage and a defenseman in Werenski who can influence the game in every situation.

My top defenseman: Zach Werenski.
My shot-volume target: Brady Tkachuk.
My tournament playmaker: Matthew Tkachuk.
My conditional value play: Kent Johnson.
My biggest pre-lock question: Both starting goalies and the final Columbus forward combinations.

My approach is to build around opportunity rather than attempting to predict the exact final score. I expect the most useful DFS decisions to come from first-unit power-play exposure, confirmed playing time and the salaries offered on each platform.

Continue following our Florida Panthers coverage, Columbus Blue Jackets updates and NHL fantasy hockey pool for more player and team analysis.

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