The Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers meet for the second leg of a home-and-home Metropolitan Division showdown at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. Columbus took down the opener 4-2 on home ice on Sunday, but it’s New York trading as a huge home favorite in the NHL odds for Wednesday’s sequel.
Columbus sits in the division basement and brings a 9-13-6 road record into the Big Apple to face the first-place Rangers. New York has been next to automatic on home ice with a 20-7 record, which includes an active 7-1 stretch.
Can the Blue Jackets make it two in a row, or will the Rangers pull even further ahead in the Metro with a home ice win?
Find out that and more with our game preview, NHL player props, and free NHL picks for the Blue Jackets vs. Rangers rematch on Wednesday, February 28.
Blue Jackets vs Rangers odds
Blue Jackets vs Rangers predictions
Game 1 of this home-and-home set was a tough schedule spot for the New York Rangers. It was their second road game in consecutive nights and third in the past four. Additionally, the prior two contests were also against division rivals with postseason aspirations.
Still, the Columbus Blue Jackets capitalized and generated 60% of the expected goals and recorded 66.7% of the high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5. Starter Elvis Merzlikins also turned away 38 of 40 shots, including all 18 in the third period.
I’m anticipating goaltending having a huge impact on Wednesday’s game, too. Except this time around, New York No. 1 Igor Shesterkin will be patrolling the crease, and he’s cranked it to 11 since returning from the All-Star festivities.
The Russian tendy has won six straight with a .951 save percentage and 1.84 GAA. Even better, Shesterkin has allowed exactly one goal in each of his past three starts and turned away 119 of 121 shots (.975 SV%).
The Rangers also continue to excel on both special teams with a sixth-ranked 24.9 power-play percentage and fifth-ranked 82.9 penalty-kill percentage. While it has helped mask their ho-hum 5-on-5 play (49.4 Corsi For percentage and 48.8 expected goals percentage), solid goaltending and strong special teams are a recipe for success, especially against inferior opponents.
For comparison, Columbus sports a 29th-ranked 14.6 PP% and 25th-ranked 76.7 PK%, and the Blue Jackets aren’t a strong 5-on-5 team, either. They have a worse CF% (48.0) and xGF% (47.4) than the Rangers.
Finally, I anticipate Shesterkin continuing his Vezina caliber play, and the Rangers paying attention to defensive detail in an effort to hold the Blue Jackets in check. As a result, I am turning to the Under in this rematch after the two teams played to a 4-2 score on Sunday.
My best bet: Under 6.5 (-109 at Pinnacle)
Blue Jackets vs Rangers same-game parlay
Under 6.5
Dmitri Voronkov Over 0.5 points
In addition to my best bet, I’m adding on of my favorite NHL player props from Wednesday’s two-game slate. The Blue Jackets have assembled an all-Russian line with Dmitri Voronkov centering wingers Yegor Chinakhov and Kirill Marchenko, and the trio have been showing off over the past five games.
They’ve clicked for six goals while running over opponents at 5-on-5 with a 61.3 CF% and 68.6 xGF%. Voronkov has also marked the scoresheet in four of the past six games, to reinforce the chemistry of the three countrymen.
Finally, this same-game parlay is priced at just +455 through DraftKings, so we’re landing a positive expected value of 4% by backing the +475 bet365 odds.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Blue Jackets vs Rangers moneyline and Over/Under analysis
There have been a few minor adjustments to this moneyline at Pinnacle, but the prices have never strayed far from the opening New York -245, with the Rangers trading at -238 as of early Wednesday afternoon. Additionally, bet365 hasn’t even moved the number at all, so I’m not expecting a major line move leading into puck drop.
The total for this game has a little more going on. There are 6 and 6.5 numbers available across the industry, and the price for the 6.5 at both Pinnacle and bet365 has fluctuated since opening. Sports Interaction has a 6 available with the Over carrying a sizable vig, whereas the Under has the higher vig on the 6.5 totals out there.
Blue Jackets vs Rangers betting trend to know
The Rangers have won five straight at home, and the Under has hit in four of those contests. Find more NHL betting trends for Blue Jackets vs. Rangers.
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Blue Jackets vs Rangers game info
| Location: | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date: | Wednesday, February 28, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | BSOH, MSG |
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