Rangers vs. Columbus: NHL Match Prediction
The Rangers will settle the score on their home ice with Columbus on January 19. Bookmakers consider the home team to be the favorites in this matchup, but they have not been showing consistent results lately, unlike the Uniforms, who are currently on a long winning streak and are unlikely to stop there. Moreover, they have left some of their previous meetings with the cops behind them. What is the best bet on this matchup? Find out from our betting tip

Command Analysis

New York Rangers

Current form
The Rangers often pleased their fans with great results at the start of the season and were among the leaders of the Eastern Conference standings, but with the departure of captain Jacob Trouba, their affairs began to rapidly deteriorate. The team began to lose match after match and could not find the game that brought them results. However, recently things have begun to improve, and they began to please their fans more often with quality hockey.
Note that earlier on home ice the club had beaten New Jersey in a tough fight (3:2 OT), then dealt with Vegas (2:1), and after a difficult match with Colorado (2:3 OT) on the road proved its superiority over Utah with a score of 5:3. Let us emphasize that the Cops achieved most of their victories with a minimal difference in the score or outside of regulation time, but even so it will be better than losing match after match. Incidentally, Laviolette team is still outside the playoff zone and currently occupies 13th place in the East.
Overall, the Rangers play no worse on the road than they do at home, and have managed to win 11 victories in regulation time so far. However, the team power play has recently left much to be desired, and has dropped below 20th place in this indicator.
Disqualifications and injuries
Rangers don't have any problems with their squad at the moment
Interesting trends for betting
- The Rangers average 8.3 penalty minutes per game.
Cops are usually sent off at least four times per game.
- The Rangers have a 45-54 goal-to-goal ratio in the second period.
The team performs worst in the second twenty minutes compared to other periods

Columbus Blue Jackets

Current form
Columbus is currently ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference. The team has shown incredible growth in a short period of time. Initially, it was considered one of the outsiders, but gradually worked on improving its game and eventually managed to get to a series of six victories. This has never happened to it before this season, and it often got by with a maximum of two or three victories in a row.
On their home ice, the uniforms had confidently dealt with Seattle (6:2) and also beaten them on the road (2:1), after which, again with the support of the home stands, they proved their superiority over Philadelphia (3:2 SO) and celebrated success against San Jose, which they dealt with without any particular problems with a score of 4:1. It is impossible not to note the actions of Elvis Merzlikin in the last meeting, who did not have as much work as usual, but he coped with it with a bang and parried a total of 18 shots.
It is noteworthy that Dean Evason team began to use their moments well and played much more interestingly in attack. In addition, the club worked on its game in the majority and today has 23.9% of the extra man power play, occupying the ninth position in the championship in this indicator. The starting game segment usually develops most favorably for Columbus, in which it has a ratio of 48:34 in goals scored and goals conceded.
Disqualifications and injuries
Gudbransson, Jenner, Monahan, Danforth out of upcoming fight due to injuries
Interesting trends for betting
- Columbus gets 8.36 penalty minutes per game.
Uniforms are usually removed at least four times per game.
- According to statistics, the team takes 30 shots on target per match
The Jackets show good shooting activity and usually threaten the opponent goal at least 30 times
Trends
Bet 1st period: total over 1.5 goals
In four out of five matches between the clubs, the first period was productive
1.74Bet 2nd period: away team win
In three out of four matches, the visitors achieved victory in the second period
3.15Tip and bets
Columbus has been showing its best side for a long time and is currently in excellent shape, so it can claim two points in this confrontation. The Rangers have previously shown unstable results and alternated successful meetings with defeats, so they are objectively considered the favorites in the confrontation with the uniforms. Do not forget that in previous meetings with the cops, the guests often achieved victory, including within the regular time. Based on this, we suggest betting on the Jackets handicap.
Prediction - Columbus win with Asian handicap (+1) on pucks for 1.77
Bet on individual total
The Rangers have shown mediocre defensive play in previous games and often allowed their opponents to score at least three times. Columbus, on the other hand, has become much better at using its chances near the opponent goal than before, and in many cases now scores at least three goals. By the way, in three previous games out of four against the Cops, the visitors regularly scored three times. It is quite possible that they will find an opportunity to score as many this time.
We take Columbus' individual total over 2.5 goals for 1.85
Total Bet
Previous meetings between the teams were quite productive and took place with six or more goals scored. Columbus operates on counter-attacks and plays on counter-attacks throughout the season, so matches with its participation are bright. Rangers, of course, have not demonstrated the best performance before, but in matches with such opponents they also score a lot. In general, we expect an open and active game and offer a bet on the total over.
We bet on total over 5.5 goals with odds of 1.65