When the Columbus Blue Jackets were up 4-1 entering the third period, the analytics gave the Seattle Kraken just a 4% chance to win the game.
By the end of the period, it felt as if it were the Blue Jackets who had the 4% chance to win.
Seattle scored three times in the final period to send the game into overtime at 4-4 with momentum in the Kraken's favor, but Jake Bean scored in the first minute of overtime to give the Blue Jackets a 5-4 win in the first of five straight on the road.
Here — along with a sigh of relief — are three things from Seattle:
ELVIS, WE NEED TO TALK.
There were miscues in the third period away from the net, absolutely. But had the Blue Jackets lost that game, it would have been a loss that you could reasonably peg square on the shoulder pads of Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins.
For as sharp as he played in the first period, he was equally as dull in the third. Seattle scored two goals less than 30 seconds apart, and tied the game with just under five minutes remaining. The first Kraken goal was on the powerplay with traffic in front of Merzlikins, so that can't fall too much on him. Their second goal of the period (and third of the game), though?
KRAKEN SCORE GOALS IN 23 SECONDS!! pic.twitter.com/xbBgeizoAk
— ROOT SPORTS | NW (@ROOTSPORTS_NW) December 12, 2021
That is a save that an above-average goalie such as Merzlikins should make. So, too, was the tying goal that Vince Dunn put into the net with 4:06 remaining. Look close and you can see Elvis a split second away from taking his frustration out on his stick:
OFF THE BENCH, INTO THE NET! Vince Dunn ties it up at 4, what a comeback for Seattle!#SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/wmwiGqdSTa
— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) December 12, 2021
Merzlikins ended the game with an .875 save percentage. Don't look now, but Elvis' last five starts have been: pulled in the first, four goals allowed, five goals allowed in two periods, a shootout loss, and Friday's four-goals allowed performance. Joonas Korpisalo certainly gets the start Tuesday night against Vancouver — right?
AN INABILITY TO HOLD LEADS.
The Blue Jackets don't seem comfortable playing with the lead. The youth and inexperience likely have a lot to do with that, but it's something that they must learn to excel at if they intend to compete. Two minutes after Columbus scored in Thursday's shootout loss to Anaheim, the Ducks scored to tie the game. In Sunday's eventual win over the San Jose Sharks, it was less than four minutes before a lead disappeared. Allowing three goals in the third to give up a 4-1 lead in this game is the third example of the week when it comes to Columbus' inexperience to play with the lead.
BEAN SAVES THE DAY (TWICE)
Jake Bean continues to quietly put together a nice season, and went above and beyond in Saturday’s victory when he prevented a sure Kraken goal by making a save on a Seattle wrap-around attempt in the first period of a scoreless game.
The Kraken are all over the Blue Jackets in the first period.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 12, 2021
Jake Bean (yes, Jake Bean), just made a nice save with his body on a wrap-around. #CBJ
Oh, and scoring the game-winner helps too:
COOL BEANS. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/4MWeCwM5ur
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) December 12, 2021
The game-winning goal was Bean’s 4th of the season, and a second period assists gave him seven of those in 26 games. During his two partial seasons in Carolina, Bean averaged eight minutes and then 14 last season. This season? 22:32 of ice time. He’s clearing earning the trust of head coach Brad Larsen and the Columbus organization — with only minimal exceptions, he’s skated alongside Zach Werenski on the Blue Jackets top pairing. Much to be learned, of course, but the 23-year-old is showing all the potential to excel in the NHL.
