Are you ready for a high-stakes Metropolitan Division clash? As the playoff race heats up, the Columbus Blue Jackets head to UBS Arena to take on the New York Islanders on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Whether you are rooting for the surging Blue Jackets or the hometown Islanders, you won’t want to miss a second of the action. Here is your complete guide on how to catch the game on TV and online.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York Islanders: TV Channels, Streaming & Time
Puck Drop Time: 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Where: UBS Arena, Belmont Park, NY.
How to Watch in the USA: For viewers in the United States, the game will be broadcast locally on MSGSN for the New York market and FanDuel Sports Network Ohio 1 for the Columbus market. If you are outside of these local markets, you can live stream the matchup nationwide on ESPN+. Additionally, local New York fans can stream the game via the Gotham Sports App.
How to Watch in Canada: Canadian hockey fans can catch the broadcast via NHL Centre Ice for out-of-market viewing, or stream it live on Sportsnet+.
Regional Blackouts Explained
If you are streaming via ESPN+ in the USA, be aware of NHL regional blackouts. Regional blackouts occur because local sports networks (like MSGSN and FanDuel Sports Network) purchase exclusive broadcast rights for their local home markets. If your IP address or billing zip code falls within the designated home television territory of either the Blue Jackets or the Islanders, the ESPN+ national stream will be blacked out for you. To bypass a blackout, you must watch on your regional cable provider, or alternatively, many fans use a secure VPN to mask their location.
2025-26 Season Team Records, Leading Scorers & Last Game Results
Both teams are battling fiercely in the tight Metropolitan Division standings for the 2025-26 NHL season.
- New York Islanders: Currently sitting with a record of 39-26-5, the Isles are trying to snap a recent two-game losing streak, having just dropped a close matchup to the Ottawa Senators. Their offense is driven by Mathew Barzal, who leads the team with 64 points (18 goals, 46 assists), and Bo Horvat, the primary goal scorer with 28 goals and 49 points.
- Columbus Blue Jackets: Columbus is one of the hottest teams in the league right now, boasting a 37-21-11 record and riding a four-game winning streak after a big victory over the Seattle Kraken. Defenseman Zach Werenski has been spectacular, leading the team with 75 points (20 goals, 55 assists), while Kirill Marchenko handles the goal-scoring load with 25 goals and 58 points.
Betting Odds, Injuries & My Personal Game Prediction
As far as key injuries go, both teams have their standard late-season bumps and bruises. For the Islanders, Ilya Sorokin is confirmed to start in the net after being pulled early in the last game to conserve his energy for this crucial contest. On the Columbus side, they are playing mostly healthy, riding the momentum of their recent trade deadline acquisitions like Conor Garland.
Betting Odds: Columbus is slightly favored at -115 on the moneyline, with the over/under for total goals set at 6.5.
I’ve been watching Columbus dominate over the past two months, and in my personal opinion, I just don’t see the Islanders’ defense slowing them down tonight. I’ve noticed the Blue Jackets are generating high-danger chances at a staggering rate, and with Werenski facilitating the puck perfectly from the blue line, Columbus is clicking on all cylinders. I’m putting my money on the Blue Jackets to cover the moneyline, and I’ll take the Over on 6.5 goals.
My final score prediction: Blue Jackets win 4-3 in a fast-paced thriller.
Finding Your NHL Action Online
If you are looking for more information on finding the Columbus Blue Jackets on TV today, or if you want to download the complete New York Islanders TV schedule for the rest of the year, be sure to bookmark our homepage. We also track the complete NHL point leaders 2025-26 season so you can see where players like Werenski and Barzal stack up against the rest of the league. Finally, don’t forget to enter our online hockey pool for cash prizes on my website—it’s free to join and pays out every single month!
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