Story by
Columbus Blue Jackets tame Seattle Kraken, illness: Takeaways
- Story by
- Columbus Blue Jackets tame Seattle Kraken, illness: Takeaways
The Blue Jackets ' desperation was evident from the opening faceoff to the final shootout attempt Nov. 11 in Seattle .
After going winless in four straight games , including three they could have won with better luck late in third periods, the Jackets couldn't afford to let another slip away. So they didn't.
Advertisement
More: Columbus Blue Jackets edge Seattle Kraken in shootout to end four-game skid
Pushing through heavy legs following a 5-4 overtime loss Nov. 10 in Edmonton , the Blue Jackets (8-7-1) ended the road trip with a 2-1 shootout win over the rested Kraken.
They're also battling an illness that forced goalie Jet Greaves to start both games of a back-to-back set, and captain Boone Jenner left with an upper-body injury.
"We played hard," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "We've been banged up a bit and sick, and the way they played the game against a fresh team was ... we did all the right things. We got rewarded here tonight."
Advertisement
Here are five takeaways:
Blue Jackets players celebrate after defeating the Kraken on Nov. 11.
Columbus Blue Jackets shootout depth comes through again
The Blue Jackets have gained confidence in their ability to win if a game reaches the shootout stage.
Evason didn't have his usual leadoff shooter. Kent Johnson missed the game vs. Seattle either as a healthy scratch or with flu-like illness. Evason never clarified.
In any case, the Jackets still rolled out a strong shootout lineup with center Adam Fantilli , right wing Kirill Marchenko , center Sean Monahan and center Charlie Coyle . All but Monahan scored on their attempts, including Coyle winning the game in the bottom of the fourth round on a wrist shot into the top right corner.
Advertisement
Columbus' goaltending has also been strong in shootouts. Elvis Merzlikins was in net for the Blue Jackets' other game that went that deep, a 5-4 win over the Penguins on Oct. 25.
Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner has a new injury
The reason for Jenner's early departure in the second period is unclear, but the Blue Jackets called it an upper-body injury. The captain couldn't continue after taking one shift in the second period.
Losing Jenner creates a big lineup void, but the Jackets are deep enough up front to handle it. Look for Yegor Chinakhov or Zach Aston-Reese to get more ice time if Jenner's out vs. the Oilers on Nov. 13 at Nationwide Arena.
Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves blocks a shot against the Kraken on Nov. 11.
Illness forces Columbus Blue Jackets to stop alternating goalies
Greaves started back-to-back games, a first for the Jackets' goalie tandem this season.
Advertisement
The reason, according to FanDuel Sportsnet TV analyst Jody Shelley, was Merzlikins was one of those affected by the flu-like illness spreading throughout the Jackets' locker room. Merzlikins was available, however, to handle backup duties.
Greaves shined while stopping 22 of 23 shots. His save percentage had dipped to .895 after taking a loss the night before in Edmonton , but that rebounded to .901 to go with a 2.89 goals-against average following the win.
Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli controls the puck against the Kraken on Nov. 11.
Adam Fantilli heating up for Columbus Blue Jackets
Fantilli capped a 5-on-3 power play late in the second by tying it 1-1 on his fourth goal of the season. Getting set up for a one-timer, the third-year center blasted a slap shot off sprawled goalie Matt Murray that trickled into the net.
Advertisement
Fantilli got off to a tough start centering a forward line that struggled with possession and chemistry, but a switch to play with Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov ignited his scoring engine.
The third-year center, drafted third overall in 2023, has five points on two goals and three assists in three games since the switch. That's brought his season scoring line up to 4-7-11 in 16 games.
Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger plays the puck against the Kraken on Nov. 11.
Sillinger, Wood return for Columbus Blue Jackets while Johnson, Aston-Reese sit
Injuries and illness prompted Evason to dress all 23 players for warmup before scratching three at gametime.
Forwards Cole Sillinger and Miles Wood returned to the lineup after each missed a game with flu-like symptoms, but Johnson sat for the first time this season.
Advertisement
Aston-Reese also sat, but that was less notable due to his role as a depth forward. While it's unclear whether Johnson was a healthy scratch or sat due to illness, as previously mentioned, getting a game off might help either way.
Despite setting up a goal for Sean Monahan Nov. 11 in Edmonton and playing on the top power play most of the season, Johnson is off to a slow start offensively. Unlike last season, when he produced at almost a point-per-game level, Johnson has tallied just five points in 15 games on two goals and three assists.
He's also saddled with a -8 plus/minus and was demoted to the fourth line Nov. 8 in Vancouver , which is near his hometown of Port Moody, British Columbia.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets tame Seattle Kraken, illness: Takeaways
