A battle between two teams fighting for Metropolitan Division supremacy will ensue this evening when the Rangers host the Columbus Blue Jackets looking to get their post all-star break run started on the right foot. Although the Capitals have been the class of the division the last few weeks, the Rangers have been the class of this matchup, winning eight of the last 10 against the Jackets.
- The Rangers are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games after losing as a favorite.
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of the Blue Jackets' last 8 games against the Rangers.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Rangers' last 5 games at home.
The Metro is the highest-scoring division in hockey and the Rangers and Jackets have both contributed their fair share to the scoresheet. New York has slowed the ridiculous pace it set to start the season but is still plenty capable of putting up a lopsided scoreline. The Rangers will have to go up against the guy leading most polls in the Vezina Trophy race as Sergei Bobrovsky brings his 28-9-2 record and .929 save percentage to the table.
Columbus still leads the league in power-play conversion rate but the Jackets will have to be careful if they go up a man tonight. The Rangers have a middle-of-the-road penalty kill but are second only to the Calgary Flames in short-handed goals scored. With a rookie running point for the Jackets PP, they could get caught out and concede their first shorty of the year.
Before the all-star break, I wrote about how the Metro has seen by far the most OVERs of any division and that you should target the Rangers and Penguins when they play any other team from the division. I stand firm with that suggestion and will be backing the OVER 5.5 myself.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
This season the New York Rangers are 31-17-1 overall while the Columbus Blue Jackets are 32-12-4. As for the totals, New York is 26-19-4 on the OU, and Columbus is 19-25-4. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and New York vs Columbus injuries news.
According to new NHL Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, it's the No. 13-ranked New York Rangers and the No. 10-rated Columbus Blue Jackets in this matchup.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the New York Rangers No. 2-ranked offense (3.41 goals per game) against a Columbus Blue Jackets defense that ranks No. 4 at 2.38 goals per game allowed. The Rangers Sportsbook has clicked at a 20.67% rate while the Blue Jackets have a 83.33% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In their last action, Columbus was a 4-3 loser on the road against the Predators. Bettors on Nashville at -120 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (7) sent OVER bettors home happy as well.
New York lost its last outing, a 2-0 result against the Flyers on January 25. Bettors who backed the Flyers at +131 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (2) sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.
- Columbus is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Columbus is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
- Columbus is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
- Columbus is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 10 of NY Rangers's last 15 games
- NY Rangers is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- NY Rangers is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Rangers's last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Columbus at Pittsburgh, Friday, February 3rd
New York at Buffalo, Thursday, February 2nd
