In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers collide at Madison Square Garden. This Metropolitan Division matchup will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 27, and it’ll be broadcasted live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers Odds
Moneyline odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Columbus is 21-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 20 of its contests have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just three have pushed. This 2018-19 Blue Jackets team is 11-6 SU on the road.
Columbus has converted on just 13.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it has successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Columbus has been sent to the penalty box just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 4.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 26.8 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (16-11-1) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, Columbus could turn to Joonas Korpisalo (5-7-2 record, .885 save percentage, 3.54 goals against average).
The visiting Blue Jackets have relied on Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson this season. Panarin (39 points) is up to 11 goals and 28 assists, and has recorded multiple points 11 times. Atkinson has 23 goals and 15 assists to his name, and has logged at least one point in 23 games.
On the other side of the rink, New York is 15-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 35 regular season outings, 18 of its games have gone under the total, while 17 have gone over and none have pushed. This year, the team’s 11-8 SU as the home team.
New York has converted on 19.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Rangers have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over their past five contests total, and 4.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist has stopped 30.5 shots per game as the primary selection in the crease for New York. Lundqvist has 10 wins, 16 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 2.83 goals against average and a .915 save percentage this year.
The Broadway Blueshirts offense will be led by Kevin Hayes (10 goals, 20 assists) and Mika Zibanejad (11 goals, 19 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five matches.
- Columbus has attempted 32.1 shots per game overall this season (ranked 12th in the NHL), and 30.9 in its last 10 games.
- The Blue Jackets are 12-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-11 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
- New York (5-2 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. Columbus fell short in its only shootout this season.
- New York skaters have managed 10.6 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 8.2 takeaways per game (ranked 11th).
- Columbus has allowed 3.0 goals per game overall this year, but has gotten that figure down 1.0 per match up over their four-game winning streak.
- Columbus has created 5.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.7 takeaways per game (ranked 23rd in the NHL).
