New York Rangers vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Saturday October 17 2026

The Rangers try to rebound from Thursday's 7-1 loss in New Jersey when they visit Columbus on Saturday. New York is 6-3-0 despite that ugly result; Columbus is 2-3-0 and has been unable to turn its talent into consistent results. The Blue Jackets are a modest home favorite, a number that asks bettors to look past the Rangers' stronger overall record. New York has plenty to correct defensively after the Devils game, but the price on a road response is attractive if it remains above even money.

The immediate question is whether Thursday was a revealing collapse or a bad night within an otherwise promising start. New York has shown it can dictate pace when its top forwards get clean entries, and it has won six of nine games while dealing with serious goalie injuries. Columbus has reason to believe its forecheck can cause problems, especially with the Rangers traveling after a lopsided defeat. But the Jackets also need to generate more sustained offense than their 2-3-0 record suggests they have consistently managed.

The Rangers project Gabe Perreault alongside Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere on the first line, with Pavel Dorofeyev shifting next to J.T. Miller and Tye Kartye. Adam Fox remains the best transition catalyst from the back end, assisted by Vladislav Gavrikov and a blue line that can break pressure with passing rather than simply clearing the zone. That puck-moving capacity matters against Columbus, which wants to force rushed decisions on the walls and turn recovered pucks into shots from dangerous areas.

Dylan Garand is confirmed to start because Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo remain injured. Garand's 3-2-0 opening record, 2.05 goals-against average and .915 save percentage are encouraging. He still lacks the long-term track record of Shesterkin, so New York should not treat its net as the reason to play a reckless offensive game. The correct approach is to give Garand manageable sightlines and limit odd-man rushes, especially after the defensive mistakes that made Thursday's loss so severe.

Columbus's projected top line includes Matthew Knies, Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson, with Valeri Nichushkin, Sean Monahan and Luca Del Bel Belluz behind them. Zach Werenski anchors the defense and can make New York chase when he carries the puck through neutral ice. The Jackets have scoring options, but converting those chances against a disciplined Rangers structure is a different assignment from attacking a team that concedes repeated defensive-zone turnovers. Their challenge is to avoid chasing a fast game just because the visitors looked vulnerable last time out.

The Blue Jackets are managing injuries to Dante Fabbro and Ivan Provorov on defense, limiting their reliable options behind Werenski. Jet Greaves is the likely goalie, though the current starter report does not label him confirmed. Greaves enters at 1-2-0 with a 3.42 goals-against average and .874 save percentage. Columbus can help him by winning battles near the circles and avoiding poorly timed pinches. Against Miller and Zibanejad, losing defensive coverage for even a few seconds can lead directly to scoring chances.

New York's best strategy is to spend less time defending than it did in New Jersey. The Rangers should work through their defensemen, let Fox control exits and force the Jackets' second pairing to handle fast entries. Columbus will try to use its heavier forwards to disrupt those exits and create net-front traffic. That tactical contest favors whichever team executes cleanly, but the Rangers' forward talent should create sufficient pressure to make the home-favorite price questionable.

The earlier market had New York roughly +117, while other feeds have displayed +109 to +114 and Columbus around -129 to -139. That means the better Rangers price has begun to disappear. The wager only makes sense if some plus money remains, because the goalie uncertainty and Columbus's home advantage are real disadvantages. At +110, New York needs to win a little under half the time to justify the price, a defensible threshold considering its 6-3 start and Columbus's limited success.

The total has been posted around six goals in several market snapshots. A game that finishes 3-2 would suit New York's desired response after conceding seven, but the Rangers' offensive ability also creates paths through a higher-scoring game. The pick is not based on a belief that Garand must be perfect. It rests on New York having the players to exploit a vulnerable Columbus defense, especially if Werenski's minutes cannot cover every important matchup throughout the night.

Best Bet: New York Rangers moneyline at +110 or better. New York has to show discipline after Thursday, but the Rangers' roster has enough puck movement and finishing to win this game outright. Columbus's blue-line injuries and Greaves' uneven start make a home-favorite price less appealing. Take the Rangers only if the remaining plus-money return adequately compensates for their own injury-hit goaltending situation. Prediction: New York Rangers 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2.