New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Predictions March 9th 2025

New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets March 9th 2025

Looking to win big? The Blue Jackets and Rangers face off at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. The Rangers are hosting the game at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6.5 goals, and the Rangers are favored by -1.5 vs. the Blue Jackets.

Looking for an edge on your hockey bets? Gain insight with expert NHL picks and start winning today!

Columbus vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Blue Jackets at Rangers
• Where: Madison Square Garden New York
• Date: Sunday, March 9th
• Betting Odds NYR -134 | CBJ +113 O/U 6.5

The Blue Jackets Can Win If…

Columbus dropped to 30-24-8 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets’ defense struggled from the start, allowing five goals in the first period. Columbus was the underdog on the puck line, and the total of 9 goals went over the pre-game line of 6.5.

Damon Severson and Kevin Labanc each scored for the Blue Jackets, but the game was already out of reach by the time they got on the board. Columbus’ defense allowed the first goal just 56 seconds into the game.

Columbus took 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson scored his 4th goal of the season, and Kevin Labanc added his 2nd, both in the second period.

The Blue Jackets had 13 giveaways and didn’t score in the first or third periods. Sean Monahan picked up his 5th assist, while Zach Aston-Reese added his 2nd.

Defensively, Columbus had a rough start, giving up five goals in the first period. They allowed two more, one at 4:51 in the second and another at 18:34 in the third. Daniil Tarasov finished with a 68.2% save percentage on 22 shots from the Capitals.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Columbus has a record of 1-2. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 1-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Columbus has a record of 4-6. This includes going 7-3 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 6-3-1.

The Rangers Can Win If…

The Rangers improved to 31-26-6 with a 5-2 road win over the Islanders. Entering the game as -1.5 goal favorites, the Rangers covered the puck line. The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark.

Four different players contributed to the Rangers’ scoring, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. Chris Kreider opened the scoring at 16:16 in the first period, and the Rangers never trailed in the game.

Artemi Panarin led the way for the Rangers with two goals, including his 9th of the season on an empty net and his 8th on a power play. Chris Kreider opened the scoring with his 8th goal, which came shorthanded. Vincent Trocheck added his 4th goal of the season, while Adam Edstrom netted his first.

Mika Zibanejad contributed with three assists, bringing his season total to 8. The Rangers fired 40 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways.

Defensively, the Rangers will look to build off their previous performance, where they allowed just two goals to the Islanders. Igor Shesterkin made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage, and the Rangers’ defense added 10 takeaways, 19 hits, and 18 blocks. The only blemish was a late second-period goal with 8 seconds left.

• Through their last three regular season contests, New York has a record of 1-2. They have held up well vs the puck line in these matchups, going 3-0 as well as an over-under record of 1-2.
• Across New York’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 5-5. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 7-3 to go along with an over-under mark of 4-5-1.

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Rangers to pick up on a win over the Blue Jackets at home. With the moneyline sitting at -134, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Rangers straight-up.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Blue Jackets to cover. Even in the event of a Rangers victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Blue Jackets should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

Struggling With Your NHL Picks?

Get Expert Betting Advice Now!

Sign Up!

Blue Jackets, Rangers Jostle for Position With Postseason in View

The Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers are set to face off twice in the next week, and the outcomes of these matchups could have significant implications on the postseason race in the Metropolitan Division.

Blue Jackets Battling for Playoff Spot

Two teams tied with 68 points meet Sunday night as the Blue Jackets continue a four-game road trip against the Rangers, who are coming off consecutive overtime losses.

Columbus is trying to make the playoffs for the first time in five years after consecutive last-place finishes in the division. With 20 games left in the season, the Blue Jackets currently hold the second wild-card spot, thanks to their .548 points percentage.

However, inconsistency has plagued Columbus lately. The team is 8-7-2 in its last 17 games after a six-game winning streak in January. A four-game losing streak before the 4 Nations Face-Off was followed by a strong offensive stretch, scoring 21 goals in four games. But back-to-back losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers saw the team outscored 9-2.

Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Florida was particularly frustrating, as Columbus tied a season low with just 16 shots on goal and went 0-for-4 on the power play, dropping to 1-for-10 in its last four games.

“It’s going to get harder,” Columbus coach Dean Evason said. “We got to compete a little harder, we got to battle a little harder.”

At the trade deadline, Columbus added depth without disrupting its core, acquiring Luke Kunin from San Jose and claiming Christian Fischer off waivers from Detroit. Both players are expected to be in the lineup Sunday.

“This group has done a great job,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said. “They deserve to keep going forward, and the biggest thing for us is we didn’t rip guys out of this room.”

Rangers Aiming to Rebound After Late-Game Letdowns

New York owns 29 regulation wins—seven more than Columbus—but is reeling from consecutive blown third-period leads. Before Wednesday’s 3-2 home loss to the Washington Capitals, the Rangers were 22-1-2 when leading after two periods. Then on Friday, they surrendered a two-goal lead in the final 9:44 and allowed the game-winning goal 33 seconds into overtime in a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

“We don’t have time for being frustrated too long,” New York’s Artemi Panarin said. “We have a pretty important game tomorrow. We have to be ready.”

Panarin extended his goal streak to four games, while Mika Zibanejad has now scored in four of his last nine contests. However, the Rangers have struggled offensively, managing just 23 shots on goal against Ottawa after posting only 17 against Washington.

“We needed two points and we didn’t get it today, so get back and get to work tomorrow and get two points tomorrow,” Zibanejad said.

The Rangers have already beaten Columbus twice this season, winning 1-0 in a shootout on Jan. 18 and rallying for a 4-3 win on Feb. 8. Now, as they try to snap their skid and solidify their playoff standing, they’ll look to keep that dominance going against a Blue Jackets team eager to prove itself.

Maximize your betting potential with insights from the best handicappers in the industry. Get the edge you need!