Kraken vs Blue Jackets

Zach Werenski and the Blue Jackets roll into this one on a three-game win streak and an 8-3-1 heater, while the Kraken limp in off back-to-back regulation losses and a stretch where defensive structure has fallen apart against quality opposition. With Columbus healthy (no current injuries listed) and Seattle missing Jaden Schwartz plus monitoring Ryan Winterton and Eeli Tolvanen, the Jackets’ top six built around Werenski, Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli should have a clear edge at five-on-five, especially with Columbus’ 3.19 goals-per-game profile at home. The first meeting this season in Seattle finished 2-1 in a shootout for Columbus, driven by Fantilli’s offense and Jet Greaves’ strong night, and now the matchup swings to Nationwide Arena with the Jackets far more confident and settled in their systems. Seattle’s goaltending tandem of Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer can certainly steal games, but the Kraken’s recent form, travel spot, and thinner forward group without Schwartz leave them as a live but secondary option despite the 146 price tag. With Columbus fighting to lock down a top-three Metro spot and Seattle clinging to the edge of the Western wild-card race, motivation is high on both sides, yet the healthier, hotter home team with deeper scoring and better recent shot share justifies laying -162 on the moneyline. I grade this moneyline bet a B, reflecting a solid edge in win probability but only moderate value at the current price. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/03/2026 09:27

Their November meeting in Seattle landed on just two total goals before the shootout, and there’s a good chance this matchup again leans tighter than the market’s 6, especially with Columbus sharpening its defensive details during the current winning streak and the Kraken’s offense sputtering to three total goals over the last two games. Even with the Jackets’ season-long scoring bump, they’ve recently leaned on more structured play, allowing two or fewer in four of their last five wins, while Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer have generally kept Seattle competitive when the team in front of them limits odd-man rushes. Seattle’s forward group is also diminished without Schwartz and with Winterton and Tolvanen banged up, which cuts into their secondary scoring and puts more pressure on Matty Beniers and Jared McCann to solve a Columbus blue line driven by Werenski, Ivan Provorov, and Damon Severson. The one clear risk to the under is Columbus’ power play, which can punish a Kraken penalty kill that has been leaky at times, but if this stays mostly five-on-five, the Jackets’ preference to manage games at home and Seattle’s recent scoring inconsistency point toward a 3-2 type result more often than a track meet. At plus money 103, I’m siding with Under 6 and grading it a B, acknowledging respectable value with some volatility if special teams turn this into a special-teams-heavy game. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/03/2026 09:27

With Columbus laying -162 on the moneyline but offering 149 on the -1.5 puckline, the question is whether their current form and matchup dynamics justify chasing the multi-goal margin against a Kraken team that has dropped its last two by multiple goals. The Blue Jackets’ recent wins over Carolina and the Rangers (5-1 and 6-3) show they’re capable of stretching leads when their forecheck is humming, and Seattle’s depth is compromised by Schwartz’s absence and nagging issues for Winterton and Tolvanen, forcing heavy minutes on a top six that has not consistently driven play on this road trip. Columbus also brings more offensive ceiling on the back end with Werenski quarterbacking and multiple finishers in Marchenko, Fantilli, and Danton Heinen, while the Kraken are leaning on Joey Daccord to hold together a defense that has bled chances against top-half offenses. That said, Seattle’s goaltending is good enough to keep this close, and the Jackets have still played their share of one-goal grinders, especially when protecting standings position late. I lean to Columbus -1.5 at 149 for those seeking plus-money upside tied to their current scoring surge, but the probability of a one-goal Blue Jackets win keeps this to a C+ grade rather than anything higher. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/03/2026 09:27