Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers Prediction, 3/2/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Rangers

Date: Monday, March 2, 2026

Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

TV: MSG Network

The New York Rangers (22-29-7) will compete against the Columbus Blue Jackets (29-21-7) at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will need a bounce back game after taking a 4-2 loss against the Bruins in their previous outing. The Blue Jackets didn't have a great showing offensively in this defeat. In the game, they converted 2 out of the 40 shots they put on net. In addition, they had 1 power play opportunity but weren't able to notch a goal. Columbus accumulated 6 minutes in the box in this matchup.

When at even strength, the Blue Jackets let the opposition score 143 goals while having 149 of their own. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have totaled 162 power play opportunities (23rd in the NHL) and have tallied 37 goals in those attempts. In relation to scoring goals, the Columbus Blue Jackets have racked up 176 goals (18th in pro hockey) on the campaign and have conceded 180. Columbus has taken 1,707 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.3%. For the year, they have scored 65 points and their points percentage sits at .570. The Blue Jackets have had 1,715 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .895. Columbus comes into tonight with 138 power play opportunities and they have tallied 27 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a percentage of 19.57%.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Jet Greaves. Opponents have scored 150 goals against Greaves in his professional hockey career and his average for goals against per game is 2.73. Greaves has been involved in 58 contests during his professional hockey career. His save percentage is .916 for his 1,205 mins between the pipes. He has amassed a record of 28-21-8 and he has started in 55 games. Over the course of his career, Greaves has earned 37 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .673. Greaves has seen 1,780 shot attempts taken against him and has accrued 1,630 total saves.

In their last contest, New York faced the Flyers in an outing where the Rangers went home in defeat by a mark of 3-2. The Rangers tallied 2 goals out of the 25 shots on goal they tried. They had 3 power play attempts in this matchup but were not able to net one.

The Rangers have earned 119 goals at even strength and 32 goals (19th in professional hockey) while having more men on the ice. New York has put up 1,476 shots (28th in pro hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 10.23%, while allowing the opposition 1,664 shots. So far this year, the New York Rangers have notched a total of 151 goals, 51 points, as well as a points percentage of .440. They have permitted 183 goals to be scored by way of 148 goals at even strength and 35 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have earned 144 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 22.22%. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 79.89% on their oppositions 174 chances on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.0%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Igor Shesterkin defending the goal. The opposition is averaging 2.48 goals per game and he has surrendered 755 goals altogether. Shesterkin's quality start percentage is 63.2% and he has earned 192 quality starts in his pro career. He has been a starter 304 games and his ice time sits at 14,608 mins. Shesterkin has a lifetime record of 179-100-27 and has participated in 309 games. He has racked up 8,324 stops out of 9,079 shots taken against him, giving him a save percentage of .917.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Columbus

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