Rangers Projectedโ to Edge Blue Jackets in Saturday โคNHL Clash
NEW YORK โ- The New York โขRangers are favored โto defeat the Columbus Blueโฃ Jackets in their Saturday matchup, according to betting markets, as the Rangers capitalize on the Blue Jackets’ struggles with finishing despite a high volume of โshots.
The Rangers enter the game with momentum, highlighted by Vincent Trocheck’s strong recent performance, โคrecording nine points in his last four games – a turnaround someโ attribute to โคa recent haircut. Trocheckโ hasโฃ also tallied four points in the two games sence โhis return from injury.
Columbus, meanwhile, is coming off a pair of wins fueled byโ a high-speed roster and the mobility โof defenseman Zach Werenski. Theโค Blue Jackets consistently generate scoring chances, averaging 31 shots per game, but currently convert at a low nine percent rate. Werenski leads Columbus with a plus-9 rating.
A key โฃto the Blue Jackets’ offensive approach is their heavyโฃ forecheck, which leads to โpuck recovery โand funneling shots towardsโ the โฃnet. This strategy positions them as a top-five team in the NHL in low-danger shot generation. However, thisโ approach could be neutralizedโฃ by the Rangers’โค strong defensive play, as Igor Shesterkin has stopped 97 percentโค of low-dangerโข shots againstโ him, per MoneyPuck.
Columbus’ goaltending situation remains a concern, with Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlinkins splitting time.Greaves currently has a 3.00 goals-againstโ average and a .897 save percentage, with positioning lapses contributing to goals allowed โขdespite the high shot volume โfaced.
The Blue Jackets’ power play has also been ineffective, ranking among the four โฃleast efficient in the league. The Rangers boast โคan 81 percent effectiveness on โขthe penalty kill, further compounding columbus’ offensive challenges.
THE PLAY: Rangers (-115, betmgm)
Sean Treppedi, whoโ handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football forโฃ the New York Post, focuses on โpicks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigateโ risk.