Eberle Scores Twice On Power Play
So much for "Kids Night" at Climate Pledge Arena.
Jordan Eberle, a 33-year-old graybeard by hockey standards, paid no attention to Sunday evening's Seattle Kraken fan promotion.
Eberle scored two power play goals plus an assist in the first period. The Kraken never looked back, edging the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-2.
Seattle finishes its four game homestand 2-1-1. They play in San Jose Tuesday, then pause for a break which doesn't conlcude until Feb. 10 in Philadelphia.
1st Period
The Blue Jackets, who have had more than their share of problems both on and off-ice, have another.
The iron bails out Columbus goalie Daniil Tarasov twice in the first five minutes. Jared McCann's kiss off the crossbar is garden variety, but not the friendly fire from Ivan Provorov.
The Blue Jackets' defenseman, trying to - well, we're not sure what he was trying to do - sends a puck with some mustard past his own netminder. The right post prevents ultimate embarrassment.
Columbus has blocked nine shots in the first nine minutes; an indication of the dominance of Seattle's puck possession.
A double stick deflection gives the Kraken a 1-0 lead at 12:40 on the power play. Oliver Bjorkstrand's shot goes off Zach Werenski's twig. Not anticipating the change of trajectory, Tarasov slides to his right. So when Jordan Eberle grazes the first deflection, the goalie isn't at the right post to stop it.
Three Blue Jackets are caught in deep as the puck heads the other direction. Eberle adds an assist to his goal at 16:04, feeding Jared McCann who converts the 2-on-1.
For McCann, it's 20 goals on the season and a career-high six game point streak.
This period's hero, though, is Eberle. His second power play goal and third point gives the Kraken a 3-0 lead at 17:58.
Nine goals now for Eberle.
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord stops Columbus sniper Johnny Goudreau on an open-ice snipe. Shots in the period, 10-8 Seattle, do not reflect the Kraken's dominance.
2nd Period
Here's how you know it's your night: Brandon Tanev gets sent to the penalty box for high sticking. He pleads has case to the officials, which never works. Except tonight.
The refs huddle, concluding - correctly - that the high stick which clipped Columbus' Justin Danforth actually belonged to teammate Sean Kuraly. Release the Tanev!
Seven minutes into the period, Blue Jackets' 1st round draft choice Adam Fantilli exits with a potential lower body injury. He's played just nine shifts, 7:30 TOI.
Jackets goalie Tarasov, burned for six Kraken goals when the teams met Jan. 13 in Columbus, has played a strong second period. Not sure how many of his mates can make the same claim.
Shots in a ho-hum 2nd period were 8-6 Seattle, 18-14 through 40 minutes. Neither team scored on overlapping power plays which each lasted 31 seconds.
3rd Period
It is possible for an NHL team to rally from three goals down in the 3rd period. Vancouver did it to Columbus last night. This morning, coach Dave Hakstol stressed the importance of pressing for 60 minutes against a team playing back-to-back road games.
Matty Beniers takes a hooking penalty, putting Joey Daccord's third shutout of the season in jeopardy. Kirill Marchenko's slap shot hits the post, Daccord saves Kent Johnson's wrist shot, and the power play ends.
Atoning for his penalty, Beniers makes a block which leaves him hobbling.
Yegor Chinakhov breaks through for Columbus at 7:12, beating Daccord short side high. 3-1 Kraken.
Chinakhov scores again with four minutes left. For the first time all night, the outcome is now in doubt.
In a finish which was more exciting than it needed to be, Brandon Tanev's empty net goal put the wraps on a 4-2 Seattle Win. Columbus outshot Seattle in the period, 18-10.