The red hot New York Rangers (39-17-3) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (19-28-10) at Madison Square Garden in one of just two games on the NHL schedule Wednesday. New York is 9-1 in its last 10 NHL games and first in the NHL standings for the Metropolitan Division, while the Blue Jackets are eighth in the division and 4-5-1 in their last 10.
Blue Jackets vs Rangers Picks
- Pick: Rangers -1.5 (-105)
Elvis Merzlikins (3.29 GAA, .902 save percentage), among the NHL picks to be dealt prior to next week’s trade deadline, is starting in goal for the Blue Jackets. Igor Shesterkin (2.70 GAA, .909 save percentage) will likely start in goal for the Rangers.
Let’s check out the Blue Jackets vs Rangers betting analysis, alongside an overview of the latest scores and odds available for this NHL clash.
Blue Jackets vs Rangers Odds
Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Information
Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers
Location of the game: Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York
Date & Time: Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. ET
How to Watch: TNT
Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Recent Scores
This is the second game in four nights for the Blue Jackets vs Rangers betting analysis. Columbus surprisingly ended the Rangers 10-game winning streak on Sunday with a 4-2 win on home ice. Jack Roslovic scored the game-winning goal and Merzlikins stopped 38 of 40 shots faced. Columbus had lost four of its last six games before beating New York.
The Rangers had 40 shots against the Blue Jackets, but found the back of the net just twice with Artemi Panarin and Adam Edstrom scoring goals. New York had won 10 in a row prior to that game, essentially securing a spot in the NHL playoffs.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Betting Analysis
Blue Jackets Playing out the Season
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been playing a little better as of late, but they’re still an afterthought as we play out the 2023-24 NHL season. They had a worse start than most NHL teams and have not been able to catch up. They’ve lost Patrik Laine to the Player Assistance Program and veterans like Johnny Gaudreau, although leading the Columbus Blue Jackets stats with 42 points (8 goals, 34 assists) in 57 games, have underperformed.
Columbus is 22nd among NHL teams in goals per game (2.95) and 20th in shots (30.1). They have the fourth-worst PP in the league (14.6 percent) and eighth-worst penalty kill (76.6), which might be a problem considering the Rangers have the sixth-best power-play (24.9 percent).
Rangers on 5-Game Home Winning Streak
New York has been among the most consistent teams all season and vaulted to the top of the NHL standings with their recent 10-game winning streak. They’ll be motivated to get back in the win column against the lowly Blue Jackets, who put an end to that streak on Sunday. The New York Rangers are T9th in goals (3.32) and T6th in goals allowed (2.73).
The Rangers have won five consecutive games at Madison Square Garden and are 20-7-0 overall on home ice this season. They’re 10-5-0 against Metropolitan Division teams. Panarin leads the New York Rangers lines in scoring with 79 points (33 goals, 46 assists) and Vincent Trochek is second in NHL player stats with 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists).
Updates
Rookie Adam Fantilli and Alex Texier are on the NHL injury report for the Blue Jackets and Filip Chytil and Blake Wheeler are out for the Rangers. Wheeler is expected to miss the rest of the season and potentially the NHL playoffs.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Betting Preview
The Rangers are favorites in the Blue Jackets vs Rangers betting analysis at -250 and a -1.5 (-110) puck line. The Blue Jackets have NHL odds of +210 for the moneyline and +1.5 (-110) for the puck line. The over/under is 6.5 according to BetUS.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Betting Prediction
The Rangers have been the best team in the NHL for the last month and were only beaten on Sunday because of Merzlikins. The Blue Jackets goalie hasn’t allowed two goals or fewer in consecutive games since November 2 and 4.
- Pick: Rangers -1.5 (-110)
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