New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 4/8/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Rangers (-275) Blue Jackets (+215)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (24-46-8) are hosting the New York Rangers (46-21-12) at Nationwide Arena on Saturday. The moneyline on this contest has the Rangers at -275 and the Blue Jackets are sitting at +215. The over/under is set at 7.

The New York Rangers were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 3-2 loss to the Blues their last time out. The Rangers had a below average offensive performance in this defeat. In the game, they netted 2 of the 24 shots they launched. Additionally, they had 2 chances on the power play and were able to net 2 goals. New York had 2 penalty mins in this outing.

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New York Rangers opponents have tallied 218 power play opportunities (27th in professional hockey) and have racked up 42 goals in those attempts. The Rangers thus far have had 2,325 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .909. New York has taken 2,502 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 10.6%. When playing at even strength, the Rangers have surrendered 169 goals while scoring 208 themselves. New York has 239 power play chances and they have added 57 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a percentage of 23.85%. For the current season, they have accumulated 104 points and their points percentage is sitting at .658. Concerning their scoring capabilities, the New York Rangers have earned 265 goals (9th in the National Hockey League) for the year and have conceded 211.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has participated in 156 games during his professional hockey career. He has earned an overall mark of 98-42-14 and he started in 151 games. Opponents have tallied 360 goals against Shesterkin in his pro hockey career and his goals against rate is 2.39. Shesterkin has seen 4,693 shot attempts taken against him and he has 4,333 total saves. His save percentage currently is .923 in his 9,026 minutes between the pipes. During his career on the ice, Shesterkin has tallied 102 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .675.

Their last time out, Columbus opposed the Devils in an outing where the Blue Jackets went home in defeat by a score of 8-1. The Blue Jackets netted 1 goal of the 17 shots on goal they attempted. They had 5 opportunities on the power play in this matchup but weren't able to score a goal.

Columbus has attempted 2,283 shots (25th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 8.98%, while allowing the opposition 2,766 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 75.55% on their opponents 229 chances on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 88.6%. They have recorded 214 chances on the power play and they have a power play rate of 18.22%. The Blue Jackets have accumulated 166 goals at even strength and 39 goals (27th in the league) while on the power play. They have allowed 314 goals to be scored by way of 258 goals at even strength and 56 goals while they had less men on the ice. On the campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets are sitting with 205 goals, 56 points, as well as a points percentage of .359.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins protecting the goal. He is sitting with 4,125 stops out of 4,553 shots taken against him, which gives him a rate of .906. Merzlikins holds a career record of 55-62-22 and has been in goal for 150 games. He has been a starter 137 contests and has played for a total of 8,192 minutes. Merzlikins' quality start rate sits at 48.9% and he has 67 quality starts in his hockey career. The opposition is averaging 3.13 goals per contest and he has conceded 428 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+215)

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