The Columbus Blue Jackets conclude their Pacific Northwest road trip with their first battle with the Seattle Kraken in the 2022-2023 regular season.

The Kraken have been the surprise team of the Western Conference this season, with deep offense and steady defense. Let’s not discuss the goaltending. Makes Columbus look attractive.

Over the summer, Seattle welcomed a veteran group of winners, with a mix of young forwards.

The Kraken also added defenders Justin Schultz and Michael Kempny after the Columbus Kraken trade involving Oliver Bjorkstrand; and also claimed forward Eeli Tolvanen off waivers from the Nashville Predators.

Seattle is deep and stacked; meaning problem will come up for the Columbus defense.

They have 14 players with 20 points or more on the season; Columbus has 6. The production is throughout the lineup.

The Kraken are going with Phillip Grubauer against Elvis Merzlikins.

Tonight, the Blue Jackets hope to remain above 0.500 on this western road trip; and are looking to win their 5th straight Saturday contest.

A Columbus win will have them jump Chicago and Anaheim if both teams fail to win against their opponents to 30th overall. If Chicago and Anaheim both lose in overtime, and Columbus wins in any fashion, the Jackets will be 31st. A Seattle win in any fashion as long as LA losses has them first in the Pacific.

Projected Lineups

Seattle Kraken

Eeli Tolvanen—Yanni Gourde—Oliver Bjorkstrand
Andre Burkavosky—Morgan Geekie—Jordan Eberle
Brandon Tanev—Alexander Wennberg—Jared McCann
Daniel Sprong—Ryan Donato—John Hayden

Vince Dunn—Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleskiak—Will Borgen
Carson Soucy—Cale Fleury

Martin Jones
Phillip Grubauer

Scratched — Max McCormick

Injured — Joonas Donskoi, Matthew Beniers, Justin Schultz, Jaden Schwartz, Chris Dreidger


Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnny Gaudreau—Boone Jenner—Patrik Laine
Kirill Marchenko—Cole Sillinger—Kent Johnson
Emil Bemstrom—Jack Roslovic—Liam Foudy
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Mathieu Olivier

Vladislav Gavrikov—Andrew Peeke
Tim Breni—Adam Boqvist
Erik Gudbranson—Nick Blankenburg

Elvis Merzlikins
Joonas Korpisalo

Scratched — Gavin Bayreuther

Injured — Gustav Nyquist, Zach Werenski, Jakub Voracek, Jake Bean, Justin Danforth, Yegor Chinakov


Players to Watch

Seattle — Oliver Bjorkstrand . For sure the easiest pick of the season. The former Blue Jacket matching up against the team that drafted and traded him.

Columbus — Kent Johnson — the western kid, would be fun to see him get more points this trip.

Predicted Final Score

SEA: 8
CBJ : 4

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