Blue Jackets vs Devils

Columbus comes into Newark on a five-game heater and an 8-1-0 burst since Rick Bowness took over behind the bench, while New Jersey returns home from a 4-1 loss in Ottawa that left them at 28-25-2 and clinging to a 2-1 season-series edge over the Jackets. With Columbus now 27-20-7 and slightly ahead in the Metro playoff chase, the underdog profile is attractive, especially given how Zach Werenski has been driving their attack from the blue line at nearly a point-per-game pace and has historically produced well against the Devils, while Nico Hischier is carrying much of New Jersey’s top-six burden. The injury sheet also tilts subtly toward Columbus: Dante Fabbro is out, but the Devils are down depth wingers Zack MacEwen and Stefan Noesen for the season and are still managing Jack Hughes’ lower-body issue after he sat out in Ottawa, potentially muting their offensive ceiling for this one even if he draws back in. Factor in that Columbus has already shown they can win in this building, rallying from 2-0 down to take a 5-3 decision here in December, and there’s enough value to justify backing the Jackets at 100 on the moneyline despite New Jersey’s home-ice and skill upside; I grade this a B+ for a solid mix of edge and even-money payout in a matchup that still carries real playoff ramifications on both sides. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/02/2026 09:20

With the Jackets averaging about 3.1 goals for and 3.3 against and the Devils around 2.6 for and 3.1 against, this sets up as another track-meet-leaning Metro game, especially given how aggressively both teams’ blue lines play through Zach Werenski and Dougie Hamilton. The three meetings this season have landed on 5, 8 and 5 total goals, and Columbus’s recent run includes scores like 8-5 over Tampa, 5-3 in Philly and 5-3 in St. Louis, suggesting their offensive surge under Bowness has come without fully locking down their own end. New Jersey’s attack may be somewhat capped if Hughes isn’t at full speed and with MacEwen and Noesen still out, but Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier are enough to punish a Jackets team that still gives up its share of chances, and the Devils’ goaltending has been good rather than suffocating. Because 6 is a key number and a 3-3 game only pushes, and because the juice at -125 trims the payout, I’m on Over 6 but only at a B grade: the offensive environment and recent trends support it, yet the combination of a potentially shorthanded Devils forward group and playoff-style tightness introduces enough downside risk that the edge isn’t overwhelming. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/02/2026 09:20

The puckline angle leans even more toward Columbus, as they ride that season-high five-game winning streak into Newark with eight wins in their last nine and very clear buy-in under Bowness, while New Jersey has been wobbling around .500 in recent weeks and just took a multi-goal loss in Ottawa. None of this season’s meetings has been decided by more than two goals, and the Devils’ edge in the series 2-1 has come via one- and two-goal results, which fits the broader profile of a Jackets team that can trade chances and still stay within a goal even when they don’t have their best. With Columbus slightly ahead in points 61 to 58 and both clubs well past the 41-game mark, this is a tight playoff-race spot where pulling away by multiple goals is harder, particularly against a Jackets roster that rolls multiple scoring lines around Werenski, Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko and Charlie Coyle, and leans on an in-form Jet Greaves in net. Laying -230 on +1.5 is not cheap, but in a matchup where structural factors, recent form and series history all point to a close game more often than not, Columbus +1.5 merits an A- grade as a high-probability, lower-reward position that works particularly well as a parlay anchor. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/02/2026 09:20