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Columbus Blue Jackets keep rolling amid injury shortage with 6-2 win over Seattle Kraken
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- Columbus Blue Jackets keep rolling amid injury shortage with 6-2 win over Seattle Kraken
The Blue Jackets ' first game without Sean Monahan couldn't have gone much better Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan on IR: Adam Fantilli fronts plan to replace him
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Forced into dressing a lineup with multiple prospects filling key roles for missing regulars, including Adam Fantilli in Monahan's center spot on the top line, the Blue Jackets won, 6-2, in front of 15,497 who saw them take control with four goals in the second period.
"We were excited about how the team conducted themselves here tonight," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "For the most part, a lot of really solid play from the whole group."
Jan 9, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Sean Kuraly and Seattle 's Eeli Tolvanen traded goals in the first, but the Blue Jackets (19-17-6) broke it open in the second with goals by Zach Werenski , Kent Johnson and rookies Luca Del Bel Belluz and Denton Mateychuk for a 5-1 lead starting the third.
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Del Bel Belluz's goal was his first of the season in his season-debut and second of his NHL career in the same number of games. Mateychuk netted his firs NHL goals with his dad watching in the arena while in town visiting from Dominion City, Manitoba in Canada (population 319). There was also an NHL debut for the Blue Jackets, who dressed Owen Sillinger, 27, as an emergency recall from AHL Cleveland. He replaced his younger brother, who was scratched with an illness along with veteran defenseman Jack Johnson .
"It was a rollercoaster full of emotions," Sillinger said. "Getting the win helps. Anytime you can hop into a new team with (the same) systems and get the win and have a positive impact, that's a great thing and that's what I thought did tonight."
Elvis Merzlikins (28 saves) improved to 15-10-3 to help the Jackets win their third straight game and keep their spot as the second wildcard in the Eastern Conference at 44 points. Despite a growing list of unavailable regulars, Columbus won for the sixth time in the past eight games.
Jan 9, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Luca Del Bel Belluz (65) celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
The Blue Jackets also set their goal cannon off six more times, scoring six goals in a game for the 10th time in just 42 games. That's just one shy of tying the franchise record for a season with 40 games remaining.
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"This team, this team in particular, the most important thing is the two points," Evason said. "That's what's awesome about this group. Sure, are we happy for people (to reach milestones)? Yeah, 100%, but the people that we're happy for are happy to win, as opposed to just scoring a goal or making their debut or whatever. It's just a Columbus Blue Jackets win."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets roll over Seattle Kraken amid injury shortage
