Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Prediction, 10/29/2021 NHL Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers

Date: Friday, October 29, 2021

Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

TV: MSG+

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+144) Rangers (-160)

Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers host the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on Friday. The moneyline on this game has the Blue Jackets priced at +144 and the Rangers are at -160. The O/U opens at 5.5.

The Blue Jackets were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 4-1 victory against the Stars in their previous outing. The Corsi for the Blue Jackets was sitting at 39 and the Corsi against when the final whistle blew was 40 meaning they had a Corsi rate of 49.4%. Their starts in the offensive zone were at 30.4% and their PDO was 117.9 in this game. Columbus compiled 10 penalty mins in this contest. The Blue Jackets had a solid offensive output and it showed in the victory. Their Fenwick came in at 28 and the Fenwick against was 33, giving them a Fenwick percentage of 45.9%. They compiled 20 face-off wins at even strength and were beaten on 17 opportunities to win the puck. Moreover, they had 4 power play tries but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. For the game, they netted 4 of the 26 shots they looked to score on.

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The Blue Jackets have had 204 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .926. While playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets let the opposition score 11 goals while notching 14 as an offensive unit. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have totaled 21 power play tries (12th in the NHL) and have notched 4 goals in those chances. For the season, they have recorded 8 points and their points percentage is .667. Columbus has attempted 160 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 11.9%. When it comes to their scoring, the Columbus Blue Jackets have accumulated 19 goals (16th in pro hockey) this year and have given up 15. Columbus skates onto the rink with 19 power play chances and they have notched 5 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 26.32%.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Elvis Merzlikins. Opponents have tallied 146 goals against Merzlikins in his pro hockey career and his goals against rate is 2.46. Merzlikins has played in 65 games throughout his pro hockey career. His save percentage currently is at .922 during his 3,556 mins in the crease. He has amassed a win-loss mark of 25-21-13 and he started in 58 games. During his career on the ice, Merzlikins has accounted for 35 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .603. Merzlikins has had 1,870 shots against him and has recorded 1,724 total saves.

When they were on the ice last, New York opposed the Flames in a game where the Rangers took the defeat by a final score of 5-1. New York wrapped up this game with a 45.7% Corsi rate. This Corsi rating tells us the kind of game New York had and we'd say it was a below average outing in all. Their Fenwick rate came in at 45.3% by notching a Fenwick of 34 and the Flames ending the game with a 41 Fenwick at even strength. They had a PDO of 93 and their percentage of oZS was 78.3%. The Rangers earned 1 goal out of the 29 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 2 power play chances in this one but weren't able to score a goal.

The Rangers have tallied 12 goals at even strength and 3 goals (21st in hockey) while having more men on the ice. New York has taken 189 shots (19th in hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 7.94%, while allowing the other team 220 shots. So far this year, the New York Rangers have notched a total of 15 goals, 9 points, and a points percentage of .643. They have recorded 26 chances on the power play and they have a power play rate of 11.54%. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 78.26% on their opponents 23 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 91.8%. They have allowed 18 goals to be scored by of a combination of 13 goals at even strength and 5 goals while they had less men on the ice.

Across the rink you are going to see Igor Shesterkin in goal. Shesterkin is the owner of a career record of 29-17-4 and has played in 52 contests. Shesterkin's quality start rate is 66.7% and he has made 32 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. He has a tally of 1,453 saves out of 1,576 shots tried, which gives him a rate of .922. The opposition is averaging 2.55 goals/game and he has relinquished 123 goals altogether. He has started in 48 contests and has played 2,895 mins.

Who will win tonight's hockey game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+144)

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