Game Preview: Blue Jackets Look To Avoid Winless Road Trip, Face Kraken Tuesday Night

Tuesday night marks the end of a five-game road trip for the Columbus Blue Jackets that, so far, has produced one total point in four games.

If they'll want to salvage at least one portion of the trip, they'll need to defeat the better-than-expected Seattle Kraken, who are 7-4-4 on the season.

Here are five things to know in advance of the 10:00 p.m. puck-drop:

• The Kraken enter this game on the heels of a 2-1 loss in Dallas on Sunday night. Before that, they had picked up at least one point in six of their previous seven games.
   
• Special teams could be an area for the Blue Jackets to strike. The Kraken have allowed a power play goal in three straight games on just eight total opportunities, and their power play has converted on just 1-of-12 chances in that same span.
   
• After a game like Monday night, all you can do is move on. Head coach Dean Evason acknowledged the mistakes in his post-game presser, but was happy with the team's compete level. "This game's gone," said Evason. "We'll learn from some stuff obviously, some of the mistakes, but we competed our (butts) off and that's what we want from the guys."
   
• Not to sound like a broken record, but Kirill Marchenko continues to impress. He's in the midst of a career-best eight-game point streak, picking up a dazzling assist Monday night in Edmonton to keep it going. His 17 points are tied for fourth most in club history through the first 15 games in a season and he's accumulated at least one point in all but two games this season.
   
• Lineup projections are below, but there could be some last-minute changes based on the current illness that some players are trying to work through. One thing we know for sure is that the goalie rotation will continue, with Elvis Merzlikins between the pipes for Columbus.