The Columbus Blue Jackets (18-17-6) welcome the Seattle Kraken (17-21-3) to Nationwide Arena on Thursday evening in what promises to be an intriguing inter-conference matchup.
The Blue Jackets enter the contest riding momentum from their recent 3-2 shootout victory over the Penguins, while the Kraken look to bounce back from consecutive home losses to the Devils and Oilers.
Columbus has been particularly strong at home lately, winning five of their last six games at Nationwide Arena and averaging five goals per game in their last five home appearances.
The Kraken, who begin a challenging five-game road trip, will need to overcome their road struggles, having won just 8 of 19 away games this season.
Both teams' recent performances suggest an offensive affair might be in store, with Columbus scoring 24 goals in their last five games and Seattle finding the net 18 times in their previous five outings.
Key to watch will be the matchup between Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski, who has accumulated 11 points in his last six games, and Seattle's emerging blue-liner Ryker Evans, who continues to impress with increased ice time.
This meeting marks the second clash between these teams this season, with Seattle claiming a 5-2 victory in their November encounter at Climate Pledge Arena.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Seattle Kraken: who will win?
For tonight's Columbus Blue Jackets vs Seattle Kraken matchup, our predictive model gives the Blue Jackets a 52% chance of defeating the Kraken.
Columbus Blue Jackets: 52% win probability
- Superior offensive output (141 goals scored vs Kraken's 118)
- Better overall standing position (8th vs 13th in respective conferences)
- Stronger recent form (WWLWL vs Kraken's LLLWW)
Seattle Kraken: 48% win probability
- Poor defensive record (130 goals against, ranking among bottom third)
- Struggling road performance (21 losses overall)
- Lower points total (37 points in 41 games vs Blue Jackets' 42 in 41)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Seattle Kraken odds
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Seattle Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | -102 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | -115 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Columbus Blue Jackets have won 18 out of 41 matches this season.
- 2The Seattle Kraken have won 17 out of 41 matches this season.
- 3With 42 points, the Columbus Blue Jackets holds the 8th position in the league standings.
- 4Seattle Kraken's 37 points place them 13th in the rankings.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Seattle Kraken form
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Seattle Kraken head to head
Columbus Blue Jackets
17%
Seattle Kraken
83%
Nov 13, 2024
Seattle Kraken
5 : 2
Columbus Blue Jackets
Jan 29, 2024
Seattle Kraken
4 : 2
Columbus Blue Jackets
Jan 14, 2024
Columbus Blue Jackets
4 : 7
Seattle Kraken
Mar 4, 2023
Columbus Blue Jackets
2 : 4
Seattle Kraken
Jan 29, 2023
Seattle Kraken
3 : 1
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dec 12, 2021
Seattle Kraken
4 : 5
Columbus Blue Jackets
