New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 03/15/2025

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Saturday, March 15, 2025

Venue:  Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH 

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Rangers -130, Blue Jackets +110; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Rangers -130, Blue Jackets +110; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Rangers -130, Blue Jackets +110; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

New York Rangers:  32-28-6 (5th place, Metropolitan Division)

Columbus Blue Jackets:  31-26-8 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

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New York Rangers:  5-3-2 last 10

Columbus Blue Jackets:  5-5-0 last 10

The Rangers are entering this game with 70 points, a 32-28-6 record overall, and they are 16-14-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Minnesota Wild in their last game, winning that one on the road 3-2 in overtime. Jonny Brodzinski, Braden Schneider, and Vincent Trocheck each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Will Cuylle, Zac Jones, J. T. Miller, K'Andre Miller, Artemi Panarin, and Matt Rempe each led the team in assists with 1 while Will Cuylle and Urho Vaakanainen each led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Igor Shesterkin was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 28 shots with 26 saves and a .928 save percentage. Their offense has scored 199 goals this season averaging 3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 201 goals against them allowing 3 goals per game.

The Blue Jackets are entering this game with 70 points, a 31-26-8 record overall, and they are 20-7-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Vegas Golden Knights in their last game, losing that one at home 4-0. No one on the team scored a goal or recorded an assist for them in that one. Zach Werenski led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Elvis Merzļikins was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 28 shots with 25 saves and a .893 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 217 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 217 goals against them allowing 3.3 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Blue Jackets listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Blue Jackets have looked good in their games this season with their 31-26-8 record overall which has them in 4th place of their division in the East and in a Wild Card spot. They have also looked great on home ice this year with their 20-7-4 home record. Meanwhile, the Rangers haven't looked great in their games this season with their 32-28-6 record overall which has them in 5th place of their division in the East and out of a playoff spot, but that record still has them tied for points with the Blue Jackets for that last Wild Card spot. They haven't been a good road team though with their 16-14-3 road record this season. The Rangers have looked a lot better over the last 2 weeks as they have been climbing the standings, and they are coming off a nice 3-2 OT win over the Wild in their last one, but they are still 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and haven't looked that good lately. The Blue Jackets haven't been any better lately as they are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games and have lost 2 games in a row now, but they will be looking to bounce back on home ice where they have been a lot better this season. The Blue Jackets are also coming off a 4-0 loss to the Golden Knights in their last one so they are going to bring their best effort after such a bad performance on home ice. This is a huge game for both teams since the winner of this game will be in that last Wild Card spot, but the Blue Jackets are in a better situation here as they will be more motivated off that shutout loss, and they can take advantage of the way the Rangers have struggled in road games this season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Blue Jackets to win this game. 

Rangers Blue Jackets Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Saturday, March 15, 2025 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Blue Jackets 3 Rangers 2.

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New York Rangers: 29-15 (+9.8 units) on the moneyline on the road when the money line is -100 to -150. 28-11 (+15.3 units) on the moneyline revenging a blowout loss vs opponent of 3 goals or more. 91-49 (+9.2 units) on the moneyline against poor defensive teams - opponents average 29.5+ shots on goal. 35-22 OVER when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%).

Columbus Blue Jackets: 68-128 (-12.8 units) on the moneyline as an underdog. 43-89 (-11.6 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 49-83 (-13.8 units) on the moneyline against poor defensive teams - opponents average 29.5+ shots on goal. 34-18 OVER after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game.

New York Rangers:  A. Kaliyev (RW) Day To Day - Upper body. A. Fox (D) Out - Upper-body. A. Edstrom (C) Out - Lower Body.

Columbus Blue Jackets:  J. Christiansen (D) Day To Day - Upper Body. C. Sillinger (C) Out - Upper-body. S. Monahan (C) Out - Wrist. E. Gudbranson (D) Out - Shoulder. K. Labanc (RW) Out For Season - Upper Body.

“I thought it was a really good game. It’s unfortunate to have six minutes of penalties in the third period. But it is what it is. It’s six on the board, so ended up getting tied up. But big goal by Jonny to respond and put us back up 2-1. Overall, though, just a really good effort. Guys played extremely hard. Got a big win and moving on.” - Peter Laviolette after his team’s win against the Wild in their game on Thursday.

“It was frustrating. It’s 8-0 in shots, they get a (power play) and they get one shot and it goes in the net. It was frustrating for everybody because the way we were playing didn't dictate that we should be down in this hockey game. And even after that, the whole first period was pretty good.” - Dean Evason after his team’s loss against the Golden Knights in their game on Thursday.

LW Artemi Panarin

C Vincent Trocheck

RW Will Cuylle

LD K'Andre Miller

RD William Borgen

G Igor Shesterkin

LW Dmitri Voronkov

C Adam Fantilli

RW Kirill Marchenko

LD Zach Werenski

RD Dante Fabbro

G Elvis Merzlikins

Points: A. Panarin (69)

Goals: A. Panarin (28)

Assists: A. Fox (43)

GAA: I. Shesterkin (2.85)

Points: Z. Werenski (69)

Goals: K. Marchenko (25)

Assists: Z. Werenski (49)

GAA: E. Merzlikins (3.04)

Coaches:

New York Rangers: Peter Laviolette (2nd season)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Dean Evason (1st season)