New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction 3/15/25
Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Rangers and Blue Jackets. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. Get ready to place your bets! The Rangers are favored by -1.5 in this Metropolitan divisional contest against the Blue Jackets. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6.5 goals.
NEW YORK RANGERS VS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5
This game will be played at Nationwide Arena at 7:00 ET on Saturday, March 15th.
WHY BET THE COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS:
- Even though they are 1.5 goal underdogs, we see the Blue Jackets winning this game by a score of 4-2.
- We like the Blue Jackets on the moneyline (+110)
- The Blue Jackets are also our pick on the spread at +1.5
Will the Rangers Defense Show Up in Columbus?
The Rangers improved to 32-28-6 with a 5-2 win over the Islanders. As -1.5 goal favorites, they covered the puck line, and the total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.
Four different players scored for the Rangers, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. They built a 2-0 lead before the Islanders got on the board, and a goal from Adam Edstrom in the third period helped seal the victory.
In their 5-2 win over the Islanders, the Rangers fired 40 shots on goal, with Artemi Panarin netting twice, including his 9th goal on an empty net. Panarin also scored his 8th earlier in the 2nd period on a power play. Adam Edstrom added his first goal of the season in the 3rd period.
Chris Kreider opened the scoring with his 8th goal, a shorthanded effort in the 1st period. Vincent Trocheck followed with his 4th goal. Mika Zibanejad contributed with three assists, bringing his season total to 8.
Defensively, the Rangers will look to build on a strong performance from their previous game, where they allowed just 2 goals to the Islanders. Igor Shesterkin made 35 saves, finishing with a 94.6% save percentage. The Rangers’ defense also contributed 10 takeaways, 19 hits, and 18 blocks.
Does Columbus Have a Shot at a Home Win?
The Blue Jackets fell to 31-26-8 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Columbus’ defense struggled early, allowing five goals in the first period. Going into the game, the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for 9, and the Blue Jackets failed to cover the puck line as underdogs.
Columbus didn’t score until 0:49 into the second period, when they were already down 5-0. Damon Severson and Kevin Labanc each scored for the Blue Jackets, who gave up another goal in the second and one more in the third.
Columbus took 36 shots on goal in their 7-2 loss to Washington, but only found the net twice. Damon Severson scored his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second.
Kevin Labanc’s goal came with 5:24 left in the second period. Sean Monahan picked up his 5th assist of the season, and Zach Aston-Reese recorded his 2nd. The Blue Jackets committed 13 giveaways in the game.
Columbus’ defense struggled in their last game, giving up 7 goals on 22 shots from the Capitals. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves but posted a save percentage of just 68.2%. The Blue Jackets’ defense also recorded 10 takeaways and 17 hits. They fell behind early, allowing 5 goals in the first period and another in the second, before conceding the final goal at the 1:26 mark of the third period.