Madison Square Garden is playing host a Metro Division matchup as the New York Rangers take on the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s the fourth and final time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The action will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 20, and fans at home can catch it 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 outings have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Jackets are 16-20 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 15.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. 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 all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Columbus has been sent to the penalty box just 3.0 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, 2.4 per game over its past five games total, and 3.4 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With 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 Columbus decides to rest him, however, they may turn to Joonas Korpisalo (8-8 record, .902 save percentage, 3.23 goals against average).
The visiting Blue Jackets have relied on Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones heavily this season. Panarin (64 points) has tallied 22 goals and 42 assists, and has recorded two or more points 13 times. Jones has 14 goals and 35 assists to his nameand has logged a point in 35 games.
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. It’s 20-17 SU as the home team this year.
New York has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
New York players have been sent to the penalty box 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced 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 netminder in goal for New York. Lundqvist has 25 wins, 33 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a .916 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Mats Zuccarello (15 goals, 34 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers Betting Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Over
Notes
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 games.
Columbus has attempted 33.9 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 30.0 in its last five road outings.
Six of Columbus’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-2 in those games.
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