Game #43 Preview/gamethread: Blue Jackets take crack at Seattle

Saturday, January 13, 2024 – 7:00 EST
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: Bally Sports Ohio; Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Davy Jones’ Locker Room

Seattle Kraken (18-14-9, 45 points, 5th Pacific, 9th West)

at

Columbus Blue Jackets (13-20-9, 35 points, 8th Metro, 15th East)

If you’re traveling to the game, please be safe on the roads! Allow plenty of time to get to the game, and make sure you keep blankets and boots in the car in case of emergency.

Player to Watch

BJORKSTRAND

He has more goals than any Jacket besides Jenner, Marchenko, and Fantilli. He has more assists than any Jacket other than Werenski. He has six more points than the Jackets’ leaders, Werenski and Gaudreau.

Remember in 2022 where contracts to Patrik Laine and Erik Gudbranson meant trading Bjorkstrand to Seattle for a pair of draft picks? (One was spent on prospect Luca Pinelli, while the other was sent to New Jersey to get the rights to sign Damon Severson)

Anyway, this expendable player is now an All-Star. And he’s thrilled about it!

Jackets Notes

David Jiricek is scratched in favor of Andrew Peeke, because Pascal Vincent hates me, personally.

Daniil Tarasov gets the start for the 8th time in the last 12 games. He’s 2-3-2 in his first 7 starts (not bad), with a .883 save percentage and 3.79 GAA (that’s bad!). Elvis Merzlikins, meanwhile, is 7-8-6 on the season, with .907 save percentage and 3.25 GAA. He has started just 4 games in the last month (1-0-2), with the last one being on December 29 vs. Toronto. He left in the first intermission with an illness.

And yet, Vincent disputes that Elvis has been demoted to the #3 goaltender, as Elvis described himself. But then Jarmo Kekalainen told this to Aaron Portzline:

“Either he plays well and becomes a No. 1 goaltender, as his skill level should be, or we’ll find someone else. As I’ve said, he’s got to work on things to get back into the net and keep it.”

WHAT? He’s been the best goalie on the team this season, by any metric! He did nothing to lose the starting job, and certainly Tarasov has not seized that role. An even split between the two would be totally fine, and wouldn’t upset anyone.

This is a deeply unserious organization, and clearly there is a lack of alignment between management, coaches, and the players.

The Other Bench

Seattle comes to Columbus on a heater, having won their last 8. Here’s a good breakdown from our friends at DJLR as to what has gone right halfway through the season, and what still needs some work.

Season Series

01/13/2024 SEA @ CBJ
01/28/2024 CBJ @ SEA

Stats

Projected Lines

Columbus Blue Jackets

Seattle Kraken