New York Islanders vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction for Saturday, February 28, 2026

bangthebook nhl game preview

The New York Islanders will play against the Columbus Blue Jackets in an NHL Regular Season game. The game is set for Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ as it takes place at Nationwide Arena.

The Islanders have a season record of 33-21-5 and sit in third place in the Eastern Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets have a 29-21-7 record, placing them fifth in the same division. Both teams will be looking to improve their standings with a win in this game.

Islanders vs Blue Jackets Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: New York Islanders vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Venue: Nationwide Arena
  • Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Columbus Blue Jackets MoneyLine -133, New York Islanders MoneyLine +113

New York Islanders Team Preview

The New York Islanders have shown strong performances recently. In their last game against the Montreal Canadiens, they won 4-3. Matthew Schaefer was a key player, scoring two goals.

Earlier this month, the Islanders also defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1. Bo Horvat contributed with a goal and an assist in that game. Ilya Sorokin made 23 saves out of 24 shots, playing a big role in the win.

Mathew Barzal has been a consistent performer for the Islanders this season. He has 17 goals and 35 assists in 58 games. Ilya Sorokin has been reliable in the net with 949 saves this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets Team Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets have shown mixed results recently. They fell to the Boston Bruins with a 4-2 score, despite taking 40 shots on goal. Adam Fantilli led the team with a goal and an assist in that game.

Earlier, the Blue Jackets had stronger performances. They secured a 4-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at home. In that game, Elvis Merzlikins had a clean sheet, with the team taking only 20 shots.

In another away game, the Blue Jackets beat the New Jersey Devils 3-0. Mathieu Olivier contributed two goals, and Elvis Merzlikins stopped all 24 shots faced. This stretch shows they can play well on both ends of the ice when at their best.

BTB Betting Pick

For the moneyline pick, the Columbus Blue Jackets are favored at -133. The Islanders are the underdogs at +113. Given the Blue Jackets’ better rank in goals and assists, they have a slight edge. The projected score is Blue Jackets 4, Islanders 3. Columbus is the pick to win straight up.

The total for this game is set at 6.0. Both teams have strong offensive stats, but their goaltending ranks show vulnerability. The projected total score is 7. This suggests taking the over at -113 is the better choice.