| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | FINAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRAKEN | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
That rebuild sure is off to a good start.
Eric Robinson broke Columbus' game-long scoring drought with a third period goal and Patrik Laine won it in overtime as the Blue Jackets moved to 2-0-0 on the young season with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Seattle Kraken.
The first period saw very little action; both Columbus and Seattle seemed more interested in figuring each other out and played a quick, penalty-free period in which the two teams combined for just 11 shots on goal, 6-5 in favor of Columbus.
Play opened up a bit in the second period, but the only goal was scored by Seattle's Brandon Tanev. His third goal of the season came on a wicked backhander after Oliver Bjorkstrand, the only Blue Jacket between Tanev and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, stumbled to the ice.
The game would remain 1-0 in favor of the Kraken until the midway point of the third period, when Eric Robinson finally got one past Seattle goaltender Phillip Grubauer after the former Colorado Avalanche netminder had made several dazzling saves throughout the night.
One of those key saves came against Laine in the second period. Laine had his breakaway shot saved by Grubauer, who made another key save immediately after as Zach Werenski failed to put home the rebound opportunity.
Not to be denied, Laine would get another chance to get one past Grubauer in overtime at the 2:19 mark. This time, the puck found the back of the net to give Columbus the victory.
PATRIK LAINE OT WINNER! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/dNzaYttDX6
— SpecmenceCBJ (@SpecmenceCBJ) October 17, 2021
Max Domi and Zach Werenski picked up the game-winning assists on the Laine goal. Assists on Robinson's game-tying goal were given to Gregory Hofmann and Scott Harrington. Hofmann's point was the first of his NHL career.
Merzlikins finished with 19 saves on 20 Kraken shots.
Next Up
Columbus will look to start the season with three straight wins for the first time in franchise history (!!) when they battle the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena this Tuesday at 7:30 P.M.
