Madison Square Garden will play host to a Metropolitan Division clash as the Columbus Blue Jackets square off against the New York Rangers. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 20, and it is being televised live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York Rangers Odds
Columbus is 40-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the away team in 2017-18, the Jackets are 16-20 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 15.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th out of 31 teams, and the team’s successfully killed off only 77.4 percent of its penalties.
Columbus, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties just 3.0 times per game overall this season, 2.4 per game over its past five matchups total, and 3.4 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .921 save percentage and 28.1 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (32-26-5) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this season. If it decides to give him a rest, however, head coach John Tortorella could roll with Joonas Korpisalo (8-8 record, .902 save percentage, 3.23 goals against average).
The visiting Blue Jackets have relied heavily on Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones this season. Panarin (64 points) is up to 22 goals and 42 assists, and has recorded multiple points 13 times. Jones has 14 goals and 35 assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 35 games).
On the other side of the rink, New York is 32-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 39 of its outings have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 20-17 SU at home.
New York has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
New York players have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist has stopped 29.2 shots per game as the top choice in goal for New York. Lundqvist has 25 wins, 33 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a .916 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average this season.
Mats Zuccarello (15 goals, 34 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Rangers.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- New York is 3-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Columbus is 6-4 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in each of New York’s last five outings.
- Columbus has attempted 33.9 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 31.1 in its last 10 outings.
- Over Columbus’ last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
