Neither the Rangers nor Blue Jackets thought they’d be fighting for a playoff spot this deep into the 2024-2025 season.
The Rangers were considered a Stanley Cup contender after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last spring, while the Blue Jackets were priced as one of the biggest long shots to make the playoffs in the entire NHL.
None of that matters now.
The Blue Jackets and Rangers are tied with 70 points going into Saturday’s encounter at Nationwide Arena, and whoever wins the contest will leave the arena in the pole position for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Blueshirts are a -146 favorite in Columbus for this pivotal matchup.
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Rangers vs. Blue Jackets Prediction
Believe it or not, there are a lot of similarities between the Rangers and Blue Jackets this season.
Neither side was all that convincing in the first three months of the campaign, but they’re back on the plus-side of the ledger thanks to improvements since New Year’s Day.
The Rangers are 16-9-5 since the calendar turned, while the Blue Jackets are 15-10-2.
It’s not just their records that are similar, either.
Both the Blueshirts and Blue Jackets are getting their results despite some shaky play at 5-on-5, especially on defense.
The Rangers rank 27th overall in preventing high-danger scoring chances since Jan. 1, while the Jackets are just a smidge better in 26th.
What works for both of these teams is that they have goaltenders in good form and offenses that have enough firepower to outscore their defensive misgivings.
Rangers vs. Blue Jackets Pick
If you covered up the names of these two teams and just looked at the numbers, you’d have a hard time finding bettors who would want to lay the wood with the road favorite in what looks to be a pretty close matchup.
Betting on the NHL?
A few months ago, this line would make a lot more sense. But right now, there just isn’t enough that separates these two teams to justify making the Blueshirts a -146 favorite on the road.
Columbus has been terrific at Nationwide Arena all season and deserves a hard look at this price.
The Bet: Blue Jackets +120 or better
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