First period
The regular-season opener on the betting board lists New York as the home side against CBJ, which typically tightens the early moneyline market around the Isles.
With
Ilya Sorokin available in goal and
Semyon Varlamov ruled out on injured reserve with a knee issue, the Islanders’ first-period price is likely to reflect goaltending stability behind a home matchup.
With
Jean-Gabriel Pageau out week-to-week with an upper-body injury and
Pierre Engvall out on long-term injured reserve with an ankle issue, New York’s forward mix leans harder on healthy top-six names like
Kyle Palmieri and
Bo Horvat to drive early shot volume.
With
Alexander Romanov out 5–6 months after upper-body surgery and
Ethan Bear out on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, the Isles’ first-period handicap is shaped by how cleanly
Adam Pelech,
Ryan Pulock,
Scott Mayfield, and
Tony DeAngelo manage CBJ’s first wave.
Second period
The midgame market often reacts to matchup depth, and New York’s available forward group features Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee, Anthony Duclair, Jonathan Drouin, Casey Cizikas, Simon Holmstrom, Kyle MacLean, Emil Heineman, Calum Ritchie, Maxim Tsyplakov, Max Shabanov, and Bo Horvat around Palmieri.
Because the listed contest is a regular-season game and the schedule is fixed, live odds movement in the second period usually ties to goalie performance, where Sorokin’s workload matters with Varlamov unavailable.
New York’s blue line also includes
Adam Boqvist and
Matthew Schaefer as options, and that personnel reality can influence second-period puck-management expectations that sit behind any spread and total pricing.
This is the segment where many bettors shop a live puck line, and the Islanders’ ability to keep structure without Romanov can matter as CBJ pushes for neutral-zone turnovers.
Third period
New York Islanders vs Columbus Blue Jackets prediction today centers on whether the Isles’ healthier scoring core can separate late while Sorokin closes, which is the cleanest way to map a regulation vs overtime split.
If the game stays tight late, the moneyline and regulation lines typically compress, and New York’s late-game outlook is tied to the available veteran finishers in Palmieri, Lee, and Horvat and play-driving from Barzal.
If New York is protecting a lead, the absence list featuring Pageau, Engvall, Romanov, Bear, and Varlamov still matters because it affects late-matchup flexibility and bench options, which can swing late puck-line exposure.
If Columbus is chasing, New York’s defensive pairings anchored by Pelech, Pulock, and Mayfield become the key levers behind any late live total decision connected to the New York Islanders vs Columbus Blue Jackets total points line.
In the broader market conversation, free picks New York Islanders vs Columbus Blue Jackets will often track which Islanders goalie starts between Sorokin and David Rittich, with Sorokin the notable healthy No. 1 listed.
Fans can confirm the New York Islanders vs Columbus Blue Jackets channel options on ESPN+ and MSGSN, with FDSOH also carrying the broadcast, for the game scheduled Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York.
Stick with the Isles’ side if Sorokin is confirmed, track late lineup confirmations around the injured group, and share this article with fellow Islanders fans looking for the sharpest read before puck drop.
