Despite a goal and an assist from both Adam Boqvist and Patrik Laine, the Kraken beat the Blue Jackets 4-2 Friday at Nationwide Arena.
1st Period
Eric Robinson had a chance to build on his hat trick on Tuesday with a wrist shot from the right circle at 6:27, but Philipp Grubauer made the save.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| SEA KRAKEN | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
At the first media timeout, the Blue Jackets recognized Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand with a tribute video. In 382 regular-season games across seven seasons in Columbus, Bjorkstrand recorded 111-123--234 in addition to 6-6--12 in 31 playoff games.
#CBJ tribute video for #SeaKraken Oliver Bjorkstrand pic.twitter.com/iGvLNUScVf
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) March 4, 2023
After an impressive display of hand-eye coordination to settle the puck, Cole Sillinger had a breakaway chance at 16:24 but was denied by Grubauer.
The clubs were tied at zero after the first period with the Kraken taking a 12-10 edge into the intermission.
2nd Period
Jaden Schwartz had a great chance to open the scoring for the Kraken on the power play with a shot from the low slot off a rebound at 4:20 but Elvis Merzlikins made the save.
Following a failed Kraken clearance, Boone Jenner had a breakaway but missed the net wide-left at 6:42.
Laine opened the scoring at 10:18 on the power play after Boqvist made a great effort to keep the puck in the zone before finding Laine at the left circle where Laine ripped a wrist shot past Grubauer.
#CBJ Laine (18) goal pic.twitter.com/NXtXXWKHPO
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) March 4, 2023
The Kraken tied the game with a power-play goal of their own at 13:20 when Jared McCann fired a wrist shot from the left circle past Merzlikins.
#SeaKraken McCann goal pic.twitter.com/lxCrsPmcnF
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) March 4, 2023
Seattle took the lead 48 seconds later at 14:08 on the rush after McCann's shot from the left circle was kicked away by Merzlikins and taken by Jordan Eberle, who went to his backhand from the slot before depositing the puck into the net.
#SeaKraken Eberle goal pic.twitter.com/KiJnvfFKEO
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) March 4, 2023
The Kraken took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission with a 23-15 advantage in shots on goal.
3rd Period
Boqvist tied the game at 4:53 with a wrist shot from the left after finding the puck after a shot from the point didn't get through.
#CBJ Boqvist (3) goal pic.twitter.com/jWrdCqs52Q
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) March 4, 2023
Former Jacket Alex Wennberg scored on the power play with a sweet move at the doorstep to put the puck through Merzlikins' five-hole at 7:12.
#SeaKraken Wennberg goal pic.twitter.com/nQSTVYsfXO
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) March 4, 2023
Schwartz had a chance to double the Kraken lead at 9:17 when he got behind the defense but Merzlikins denied his breakaway shot.
After the Jackets pulled Merzlikins in favor of an extra skater, Johnny Gaudreau hit the crossbar from the left circle at 18:16 and then was subsequently robbed by Grubauer from the left doorstep at 18:19.
The Kraken sealed the victory at 19:12 after Brandon Tanev picked Laine's pocket and scored on the empty net.
With the loss, the Jackets fall to 20-36-6.
Stats
- Shots on Goal: SEA 35-23 CBJ
- Faceoff %: SEA 48.4-51.6 CBJ
- Power play: SEA 2/4-1/4 CBJ
- Takeaways: SEA 4-8 CBJ
- Giveaways: SEA 4-10 CBJ
- Blocked shots: SEA 10-19 CBJ
- Hits: SEA 11-20 CBJ
-
5-on-5 stats (via naturalstattrick.com):
- Expected Goals (xG): SEA 2.23-2.28 CBJ
- Chances (CF): SEA 54-43 CBJ
- Shots (SF): SEA 27-16 CBJ
- Scoring Chances (SCF): SEA 29-22 CBJ
- High-Danger Chances (HDCF): SEA 10-10 CBJ
Injury Update
Sean Kuraly will miss approximately six weeks with a left oblique strain suffered in Thursday's practice.
Next Up
The Jackets are back in action Saturday night on the road to take on the Ottawa Senators at 7 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.
The club stays on the road and will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio,
