Archive note: Technical commentary has been removed. This remains historical pregame coverage; original selections have been retained where stated.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Islanders Prediction - March 22, 2026
Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's prediction, as they incorporate last-minute goalie confirmations, injury updates, and live odds closer to game time. Always check the picks page for the most up-to-date selections.
The Columbus Blue Jackets travel to Nassau Coliseum to face the New York Islanders in a critical Eastern Conference matchup on March 22, 2026. The Blue Jackets come in riding strong form with a 7-0-3 record, while the Islanders sit at 5-5-0, creating a significant talent gap despite both teams facing identical back-to-back scheduling challenges.
Team Form & Recent Performance
Columbus has been one of the league's hottest teams, securing four wins in their last five games and maintaining an impressive 7-0-3 overall record. The Blue Jackets enter this matchup with clear momentum, demonstrating consistency both offensively and defensively. The Islanders, conversely, have struggled with a 2-3 record over their last five games, sitting at .500 in their overall record. Both teams face the same adversity here: each is playing on zero days rest in a back-to-back scenario. However, Columbus's superior recent form and deeper roster depth should help them better weather the fatigue factor.
Goalie Matchup
J. Greaves is expected to start for Columbus, carrying an impressive 23-12-8 record that reflects the team's overall success this season. Greaves has been a stabilizing force in net and should be confident heading into this contest. The Islanders will counter with D. Rittich, who holds a respectable 14-9-3 record but hasn't enjoyed the same level of run support as Greaves. Given the gap in underlying shot quality, Greaves should see a more manageable workload relative to Rittich.
Goalscorer Picks
Kirill Marchenko is the featured anytime goalscorer for Columbus, as he's been integral to the Blue Jackets' offensive success. For New York, Mathew Barzal offers the best scoring opportunity despite the team's inconsistent recent form. For NHL picks targeting better value, consider Charlie Coyle for Columbus—a dark horse who's been generating quality chances at improved odds—and Anders Lee for the Islanders, who represents a solid secondary scoring option with appealing payout potential.
Prediction
Both teams face fatigue, but the Blue Jackets' depth and underlying play quality should prove decisive. Run your own prediction to see how different variables impact this matchup.
Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's prediction, as they incorporate last-minute goalie confirmations, injury updates, and live odds closer to game time. Always check the picks page for the most up-to-date selections.