Game Preview: After Another Third Period Meltdown, Blue Jackets Head To Seattle To Battle The Kraken

SEATTLE KRAKEN

20-18-10 (50 pts; .521%) 5th, Pacific Division ROSTER SCHEDULE

9:00 P.M. – SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA SEATTLE, WA

TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ Power Play (Out of Market)

Many shampoo bottles carry the instructions to lather, rinse, and repeat.

The Columbus Blue Jackets sure do have that last step down. 

Entering the third period with a three-goal lead, the Blue Jackets snatched defeat from the jaws of the victory yet again Saturday night, falling 5-4 to the Vancouver Canucks in overtime.

Sunday's quick turn-around will provide Columbus with a fast chance at redemption, as the club continues their season-long road trip with a 9:00 p.m. game against the Seattle Kraken.

Here's what else to know when the Blue Jackets make their third-ever trip to Seattle:

TALKING POINTS: SEA

• Sunday's game is the last home game for the Kraken until February 19th, so expect a raucous crowd at the Climate Pledge Arena. It's also the final of four straight at home for the Kraken, who have gone a pedestrian 1-1-1 in the first three.
   
• It's a bittersweet fact that Oliver Bjorkstrand leads the Kraken in points this season. The former Blue Jacket is the only player on Seattle with 10+ goals and 20+ assists on the season. 

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• The blown leads have to start to affect the team mentally at some point, right? The three-goal lead that turned into a loss Saturday was Columbus' third time they blew a three-goal lead in the final period in a span of just 21 games. No lead is safe with this team, which is good for television ratings, I suppose.
   
• Kirill Marchenko's 15th goal of the season in Saturday's loss was a power play tally and was the 7th time this season he scored on the man-advantage. No other Blue Jacket has more than three power play goals this season. The Kraken have allowed seven goals in their last 18 penalty kills, so the opportunities will be there for the taking.
   
• Projected lineups are below and are as of early Sunday morning. Adam Boqvist was placed on injured reserve Saturday as a result of taking a puck to the face while on the bench in Thursday's win over Calgary. In response, the Blue Jackets called up Nick Blankenburg, who should join the lineup Sunday night. With Elvis Merzlikins between the pipes Saturday night, it would be reasonable to assume Tarasov gets the start Sunday night.