First period
The Columbus Blue Jackets vs Seattle Kraken prediction and odds start with the simple reality that this matchup is logged as a regular season group game in tournament round 1 with CBJ at home and SEA away.
The betting board is being shaped by availability markers on the Jackets’ side, with
Boone Jenner listed out on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and
Erik Gudbranson listed out on injured reserve with a hip injury.
The Jackets also carry two day-to-day tags in
Kirill Marchenko (undisclosed) and
Mathieu Olivier (upper body), and those designations can tighten projections around early-game scoring and first-period aggressiveness.
For Columbus,
Zach Werenski headlines the healthy blue line group that includes
Ivan Provorov,
Damon Severson,
Denton Mateychuk,
Dante Fabbro,
Jake Christiansen, and
Brendan Smith, which directly matters to first-period puck-management expectations.
In net, Columbus has
Elvis Merzlikins and
Jet Greaves available on the roster, and goalie confirmation is a key driver behind moneyline movement and live odds once starters are announced.
Up front, the Jackets’ listed forward group includes
Sean Monahan,
Adam Fantilli,
Kent Johnson,
Cole Sillinger,
Charlie Coyle,
Dmitri Voronkov,
Yegor Chinakhov,
Miles Wood,
Isac Lundestrom,
Zach Aston-Reese,
Brendan Gaunce, and
Luca Pinelli, which sets the baseline for first-period shot volume and matchup rotations.
Second period
The Columbus Blue Jackets vs Seattle Kraken total points line is most sensitive to Columbus’ injury list because Jenner and Gudbranson being out removes two established options from special-teams and matchup assignments.
Marchenko and Olivier being day to day adds uncertainty that can widen the gap between opening odds and in-game pricing, especially if either skater is ruled in or out close to puck drop.
From a wagering perspective, the Jackets’ defensive structure is tied to Werenski’s presence alongside the rest of the available defense corps, and that can influence second-period totals where line changes and transition chances typically spike.
Because the schedule data tags this as a single regular season game with CBJ home and SEA away, bettors tracking the moneyline and puck line will often wait for confirmation on who Columbus starts in goal between Merzlikins and Greaves.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Seattle Kraken online betting markets will also react to any update on Marchenko’s undisclosed status and Olivier’s upper-body status, since either change affects depth, power-play looks, and second-period scoring probability.
Third period
In the third period, the Jackets’ closing outlook ties back to which healthy forwards are available for late shifts, and the current roster list shows Monahan, Fantilli, Johnson, Sillinger, Coyle, Voronkov, Chinakhov, Wood, Lundestrom, Aston-Reese, Gaunce, and Pinelli as the baseline options.
The Jackets’ ability to protect a lead is also linked to the available defense group led by Werenski, with Provorov, Severson, Mateychuk, Fabbro, Christiansen, and Smith forming the remaining options while Gudbranson remains out on injured reserve.
If late-game totals betting tightens, it will still trace back to goalie deployment, and Columbus having both Merzlikins and Greaves available keeps the late-period save expectation tied to the starter announcement.
This game is scheduled for March 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, and Columbus Blue Jackets vs Seattle Kraken channel options listed are ESPN+, KHN, KONG, and FDSOH.
Lock in your read on the moneyline, puck line, and game total once Columbus confirms lineup availability around Jenner, Marchenko, Olivier, and Gudbranson, and share this article with other Jackets fans tracking the numbers.
