National Hockey League
Seattle 3, Columbus 1
When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 28, 2023
Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
Referees: Peter MacDougall, Furman South
Linesmen: Matt MacPherson, CJ Murray
Attendance: 17151

Morgan Geekie broke his 29-game goalless drought as the Seattle Kraken defeated the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 Saturday night and moved into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division in their final game before the NHL's All-Star break.

Alex Wennberg and Eeli Tolvanen also scored for the Kraken, who went 3-1-1 on a five-game homestand. Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves.

Rookie Kent Johnson tallied for Columbus, which completed a 1-2-1 trip. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 28 of 31 shots for the Blue Jackets, who have the fewest points (33) in the league.

The Kraken took a 1-0 lead through one period while outshooting Columbus 12-4.

Defenseman Carson Soucy forced a turnover at center ice that led to Brandon Tanev skating the puck over the blue line. Tanev dropped a pass for Geekie, who faked a slap shot before putting a wrister into the upper left corner of the net from between the top of the faceoff circles at 8:40.

The Kraken doubled their lead at 8:33 of the second. Jared McCann corralled a rebound in the left-wing corner and fed a pass to Jordan Eberle behind the net. Eberle skated back above the goal line before making a short pass to Wennberg, who had moved to the top of the crease. The former Blue Jackets player chipped the puck over a sprawling Merzlikins.

Columbus finally got on the board at 18:58 of the second. Following a Seattle turnover, Jack Roslovic picked up the loose puck just outside the blue line and skated down the right wing. He centered the puck for Johnson, who put a one-timer high into the right corner of the net from between the hashmarks.

The Kraken made it 3-1 at 5:39 of the third as Oliver Bjorkstrand, acquired in an offseason trade with Columbus, forced a turnover at center ice and fed Tolvanen, who used a defenseman as a screen and beat Merzlikins with a wrister from between the top of the faceoff circles. It was Tolvanen's third straight game with a goal.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Columbus   Seattle
Kent Johnson 1 Points Morgan Geekie 1
Kent Johnson 1 Goals Morgan Geekie 1
Jack Roslovic 1 Assists Oliver Bjorkstrand 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Elvis Merzlikins .903 Save Percentage Philipp Grubauer .960
Elvis Merzlikins 28 Saves Philipp Grubauer 24
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Columbus 25 1 0-2 2-2 4 34
Seattle 31 3 0-2 2-2 2 28
Upcoming Games
  • Seattle will play their next game on the road against NY Islanders. The Kraken have a W/L % of .643 after a win and .524 after a loss.
  • Columbus will play their next game at home against Washington. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .200 after a win and .343 after a loss.