Columbus Blue Jackets vs New York Islanders Prediction -

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. This Blue Jackets vs Islanders prediction highlights Columbus's superior underlying metrics and recent momentum as key factors heading into this contest.

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.

Advanced Stats Comparison

The advanced analytics paint a clear picture favoring Columbus in this Blue Jackets Islanders pick. The Blue Jackets lead significantly in shot quality metrics, posting a 54.11% expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) compared to New York's 44.41%. Columbus also holds a 51.35% Corsis-for percentage (CF%), indicating they're controlling play and generating more shot attempts at even strength. Most tellingly, the Blue Jackets dominate in high-danger chances with a 48.95% HDCF%, while the Islanders sit at just 43.07%. These metrics suggest Columbus is creating better scoring opportunities and limiting New York's chances from dangerous areas of the ice.

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

WP Hockey Predictor's algorithm favors the Columbus Blue Jackets in this matchup, assigning them a 57.7% win probability compared to New York's 42.3%. Columbus's superior advanced metrics, stronger recent form, and goaltending advantage make them the clear favorites despite the back-to-back challenge. 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.