New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 2/8/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: NBC4 WCMH-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Rangers (+162) Blue Jackets (-196)

Nationwide Arena is where the Columbus Blue Jackets (26-21-7) will meet the New York Rangers (26-23-4) on Saturday. The odds on this game have New York at +162 while Columbus is opening at -196. The over/under is set at 6.

The New York Rangers had a good night with a 3-2 victory against the Bruins their last time out. New York earned 6 penalty minutes for this contest. The Rangers had an average offensive outing in the victory. Moreover, they had 3 chances with extra men on the ice but weren't able to score. For the matchup, they tallied a score on 3 of the 22 shots they attempted.

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New York Rangers opponents have 160 power play opportunities (6th in the league) and have scored 28 goals in those chances. The Rangers have had 1,618 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .900. New York has taken 1,567 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 10.1%. At even strength, the Rangers have surrendered 134 goals while scoring 129 of their own. New York has 139 power play chances and they have scored 29 goals out of those advantages, giving them a percentage of 20.86%. For the current season, they have tallied 56 points and their points percentage comes in at .528. Regarding their goal scoring prowess, the New York Rangers have accumulated 158 goals (15th in pro hockey) so far this year and have surrendered 162.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has been involved in 251 games throughout his NHL career. He has accumulated a mark of 153-77-19 and he was named the starter in 246 games. Opponents have been able to score 607 goals against Shesterkin in his NHL career and his goals against average is 2.91. Shesterkin has had 7,467 shots against him and has garnered 6,860 saves. His save percentage is at .919 in his 12,518 mins guarding the cage. For his professional hockey career, Shesterkin is sitting with 157 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .638.

Their last time out, Columbus faced the Sabres in a game where the Blue Jackets went home in defeat by a final score of 3-2. The Blue Jackets scored 2 goals of the 29 shots on goal they attempted. They had 1 power play attempt in this one but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal.

Columbus has taken 1,576 shots (9th in professional hockey) and has a shot percentage of 11.10%, while allowing the opposition 1,572 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 74.83% on their opponents 147 tries on the power play, and their save percentage comes in at 88.7%. They have a total of 131 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play rate of 21.37%. The Blue Jackets have accumulated 147 goals at even strength and 28 goals (23rd in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have permitted 178 goals to be scored by of a combination of 141 goals at even strength and 37 goals while they had less men on the ice. On the year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned 175 goals, 59 points, and a points percentage of .546.

Across the rink you are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins in net. Merzlikins has compiled a career mark of 87-92-33 and has played in 226 games. Merzlikins' quality start rate sits at 48.1% and he has 102 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has racked up 6,142 saves out of 6,804 shots tried, which gives him a percentage of .903. His opposition is averaging 3.77 goals/game and he has allowed 662 goals altogether. He was named a starter in 212 games and has played 10,538 mins.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Columbus (-196)

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