Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 PM EST
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: FDSNOH (FanDuel Sports Network Ohio), MSGSN, ESPN+
A key Metropolitan Division clash on Saturday evening pits the surging New York Islanders against a Columbus Blue Jackets team coming off a tough end to their hot streak. The Islanders hold strong playoff positioning (3rd in Metro), while Columbus fights to stay in the wild-card hunt (5th in Metro) after a solid post-Olympic push.
Team Context
- Islanders: 33-21-5 (71 points), 3rd Metropolitan / solid Eastern Conference contender. Positive goal differential (+8 overall), strong road form (17-11-3 away), elite goaltending and defensive structure key to success.
- Blue Jackets: 29-21-7 (65 points), 5th Metropolitan / Eastern wild-card bubble. Home record strong (15-8-4), but recent defensive lapses and goaltending inconsistency have hurt. They trail the Islanders by 6 points but have games in hand.
Recent Form
Islanders are heating up post-Olympic break, winning their last 3 games including a dramatic 4-3 OT comeback over Montreal on Feb. 26 (Anders Lee scored in his 900th game; Ilya Sorokin 21 saves; rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer with a historic 2-goal night, setting NHL records for most goals by an 18-year-old D and Islanders rookie D). They’ve gone 20-11-2 in their last 33 games, showing resilience and depth scoring.
Blue Jackets snapped a 7-game winning streak with a 2-4 road loss to Boston on Feb. 26 (first game post-break; Joonas Korpisalo allowed 4 goals on 40 shots; Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko scored). Prior to that, they were red-hot (11-1-0 in 12 games), with strong secondary scoring and physical play. The loss dropped them 6 points behind Boston for a wild-card spot.
Injury Report
Islanders
- Kyle Palmieri (C) – Knee, IR (long-term; out until at least September).
- Pierre Engvall (LW) – Ankle, LTIR (out long-term since October).
- Semyon Varlamov (G) – Knee, IR (out since early season).
Core group healthy post-break; Sorokin expected to start, with Schaefer continuing his breakout rookie campaign.
Blue Jackets
- Kirill Marchenko (RW) – Lower-body, did not practice recently; questionable/day-to-day for Feb. 28.
- Zach Werenski (D) – Heavy minutes post-Olympics (28:34 vs. BOS); no injury but managed workload concern.
Elvis Merzlikins likely in net after the Boston loss; team otherwise healthy and rested.
Key Player Matchups
- Goaltending: Ilya Sorokin (NYI – .915 SV%, 2.45 GAA, elite form) vs. Elvis Merzlikins (CBJ – solid but allowed 4 in last start). Clear edge to Islanders if Sorokin stays sharp.
- Top Lines: Islanders’ Bo Horvat–Anders Lee–Mathew Barzal (veteran leadership) and hot depth (Schaefer from blue line, Brock Nelson) vs. Blue Jackets’ Adam Fantilli–Kirill Marchenko (if playing)–Cole Sillinger line. Fantilli’s emergence key for Columbus.
- Defense: Islanders’ mobile group (Alexander Romanov, Noah Dobson) vs. Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski (high minutes, playmaking) and young corps. Physical battles expected in transition.
- Special Teams: Islanders strong PK (~82.4%); Blue Jackets improved PP but vulnerable defensively. Expect disciplined play to limit power plays.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
Series tied 1-1 (based on available games):
- Nov. 2, 2025: NYI 3-2 vs. CBJ (at UBS Arena).
- Dec. 28, 2025: CBJ 4-2 vs. NYI (at Nationwide Arena).
Columbus won the most recent meeting; Islanders have been competitive but road struggles against CBJ noted (2-4 SU in last 6 road vs. Columbus historically).
Betting Trends
- Total: Both teams strong defensively post-break; recent games (4-3 OT, 4-2, 2-4) suggest low-scoring affair. Unders hit in many Metro matchups.
- Other Trends: Islanders 6-1 SU in last 7 vs. certain opponents but road underdogs mixed; Blue Jackets 7-3 SU before streak end. Home teams in this matchup often cover.
This shapes up as a tight, defensive battle between two playoff-hungry Metro teams. The Islanders’ goaltending and Schaefer’s emergence give them upset potential, but Columbus’ home crowd, recent form (minus one game), and need for points make them the slight side. Expect a low-scoring grinder, likely settling in the 3-2 or 4-2 range.
Game Odds
New York Islanders 6.5
Columbus Blue Jackets – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 27, 2026
