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Columbus Blue Jackets 'kids' power blowout of Seattle Kraken: 4 takeaways
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- Columbus Blue Jackets 'kids' power blowout of Seattle Kraken: 4 takeaways
A roomful of injured NHL regulars watched the Blue Jackets on Thursday from Nationwide Arena's press level.
Captain Boone Jenner (shoulder), center Sean Monahan (wrist), forward Justin Danforth (lower body) and alternate captain Erik Gudbranson (shoulder) sat next to top prospect Cayden Lindstrom (back), while center Cole Sillinger (illness) and defenseman Jack Johnson (illness) watched elsewhere.
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More: Columbus Blue Jackets keep rolling amid injury shortage with 6-2 win over Seattle Kraken
The Blue Jackets' list of injuries and illnesses is growing for the third straight season, but it's different this time. The veterans are still missed, but the Jackets are also loaded now with emerging talent that continues to ripen in the NHL and with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. The annual health conundrum is more of a side note than a season-crushing subplot, which is evidence the Blue Jackets' rebuild is trending up.
Their kids can play, which they proved again Thursday in a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken . Despite icing a lineup with young players skating in some key roles, the Jackets steamrolled Seattle with two goals scored by veterans ( Zach Werenski and Sean Kuraly ), two goals scored by young NHL forwards ( Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson ), and two goals by rookies ( Denton Mateychuk and Luca Del Bel Belluz ).
The future in Columbus appears bright and present. Here are four takeaways:
Jan 9, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Columbus Blue Jackets ' prowess grows at Nationwide Arena
After storming back for a rare road victory Tuesday in Pittsburgh , where they hadn't won since 2015, the Blue Jackets returned to the comforts of home ice to face the Kraken.
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It was another rousing success in front of 15,497, who watched the hosts improve their record on home ice to 14-5-3 while trouncing Seattle with a four-goal second period. The Blue Jackets are 5-12-3 on the road, which will likely determine their playoff fate.
Improving on the road while continuing to win in Columbus could become an unthinkable golden ticket to the postseason for a team that was universally written off before playing a single game.
Jan 9, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Seattle Kraken left wing Andre Burakovsky (95) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk (5) battle for the loose puck during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Columbus Blue Jackets rookie Denton Mateychuk picks timely game for first NHL goal
Mateychuk played his eighth NHL game and continues to impress while shifting with veteran Ivan Provorov on the Blue Jackets' second defensive pairing.
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After notching his first career point with an assist on New Year's Eve against the Carolina Hurricanes , Mateychuk scored his NHL goal to help the Jackets build a 5-1 lead in the second period against Seattle. His tally made it 4-1 after he pinched low to the bottom of the left circle to get a feed from James van Riemsdyk .
Mateychuk's dad, Jason, celebrated in the stands while visiting his son from their hometown of Dominion City, Manitoba in Western Canada (population 319).
"It's awesome," Mateychuk said. "I wouldn't be here without him. He's done so much for me over the years, and it's awesome to have him in attendance tonight."
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
Columbus Blue Jackets developing 'swagger' at NHL, AHL levels
Rookie call-ups from the past three seasons enjoyed playing in the NHL with the Blue Jackets, but those were grim years in Columbus. This year is different with the Jackets contending for the playoffs midway through the season and the Cleveland Monsters battling for the top spot in the AHL North again.
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"They've got swagger (and) they've got confidence," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "Most of those guys who come up, they've got a ton of points (for the Monsters), but they play the right way. It just sets them up to have success when they get here."
Sep 24, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Owen Sillinger (12) skates during the first period of the NHL preseason hockey game against the St. Louis Blues at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus Blue Jackets rookie Owen Sillinger replaces one 'Silly' with another
Owen Sillinger got a call Thursday he's been waiting a long time to receive. Chris Clark, the Blue Jackets' director of player personnel and the Cleveland Monsters' GM, told the 27-year old rookie forward to start heading South to Columbus.
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The Blue Jackets used an emergency recall to add Sillinger for his NHL debut, which happened because his younger brother, Cole, was sick. It was a "Silly for Silly" swap that put a smile on a lot of Blue Jackets faces.
"Things happened in a weird way," Owen Sillinger said. "(Cole) called me and said, 'I can't even get to the bathroom on my own. Like, you're going to be in,' and I was like, 'Yeah, absolutely. I already talked to 'Clarky' and I'm way ahead of ya.'"
Owen Sillinger agreed to his first NHL contract last offseason with the Jackets. He's now the third member of the Sillinger family to play for the Blue Jackets, following Cole and their father, Mike, who played two seasons (2001-03) in Columbus.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets' monsters key rout over Kraken: 4 takeaways
