The upcoming NHL clash between the Columbus Blue Jackets (31-29-9) and the New York Islanders (32-28-9) on Monday, March 24, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, is a pivotal matchup in the race for the Eastern Conference Wild Card spots. Both teams are separated by just two points in the standings, making this game crucial for their playoff aspirations.
Team Overview
Columbus Blue Jackets
- Record: 31-29-9 (71 points)
- Metropolitan Division Standing: 5th
- Recent Form: 0-5-1 in their last six games
- Road Record: 14-16-5
The Blue Jackets are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, struggling to find consistency as the season winds down. Despite their recent struggles, Columbus remains just four points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Their offense is led by Kirill Marchenko, who has tallied 25 goals and 62 points, and Zach Werenski, who leads the team with 49 assists and 69 points. However, injuries to key players like Sean Monahan and Erik Gudbranson have hampered their depth.
New York Islanders
- Record: 32-28-9 (73 points)
- Metropolitan Division Standing: 4th
- Recent Form: 5-3-2 in their last 10 games
- Home Record: 17-13-4
The Islanders are riding a six-game home point streak (4-0-2) and have been strong at UBS Arena, going 10-2-2 in their last 14 home games. They trail the Montreal Canadiens by just two points for the final Wild Card spot and have two games in hand. Bo Horvat leads the team with 24 goals and 48 points, while Anders Lee has contributed 25 goals. The Islanders’ defense, anchored by Noah Dobson, has been solid, but their power play and penalty kill rank last in the league.
Key Players to Watch
Columbus Blue Jackets
- Kirill Marchenko: The team’s leading goal scorer with 25 goals and a +28 rating.
- Zach Werenski: A dynamic defenseman with 20 goals and 49 assists, leading the team in points.
- Elvis Merzlikins: The starting goaltender with a 22-19-5 record, a 3.04 GAA, and a .896 save percentage.
New York Islanders
- Bo Horvat: The team captain and offensive leader, with six game-winning goals this season.
- Anders Lee: A consistent scoring threat with 25 goals.
- Jacob Markstrom: The veteran goaltender, who has been solid in net since returning from injury.
Injury Report
Blue Jackets
- Sean Monahan: Expected to return after missing time with an injury.
- Erik Gudbranson: Out with an undisclosed injury.
- Cole Sillinger: Out with an undisclosed injury.
- Kevin Labanc: Out with an undisclosed injury.
Islanders
- Mathew Barzal: Out with a shoulder injury.
- Adam Boqvist: Out with an undisclosed injury.
- Semyon Varlamov: Out with an undisclosed injury.
Head-to-Head
This is the third meeting between these teams this season. The Blue Jackets shut out the Islanders 2-0 in their first matchup on October 30, 2024, but the Islanders responded with a 3-1 victory on January 20, 2025, snapping Columbus’ seven-game winning streak at the time. Bo Horvat scored twice in the Islanders’ win.
Keys to Victory
Columbus Blue Jackets
- Tighten up defensively to limit the Islanders’ scoring chances.
- Capitalize on their power play opportunities against the Islanders’ struggling penalty kill.
- Elvis Merzlikins must deliver a strong performance in goal to keep the game close.
New York Islanders
- Leverage their home-ice advantage and strong recent form at UBS Arena.
- Bo Horvat and Anders Lee need to lead the offensive charge.
- Improve special teams play, particularly on the penalty kill, to avoid giving Columbus an edge.
