The NHL Pacific Northwest road-trip for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022-2023 regular season has concluded with a final record of 1-2-1, collecting three points in the four games.

Having already recapped the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers games, let’s cover the back half as it was quick back to back series.

First, let’s start with the Vancouver Canucks.

CBJ P49 — Walk With Elias

The top guys on the Vancouver Canucks came through to push past the Columbus Blue Jackets, by the final score of 5-2.

Elias Pettersson opened the scoring for the Canucks on the penalty kill with his 20th if the season; Captain and All Star Bo Horvat had the lone assist.

Kirill Marchenko evened the scoring for Columbus with his 12th goal of the season. The powerplay deflection was assisted by Adam Boqvist and Patrik Laine.

Quinn Hughes replied with a powerplay tally of his own for his fifth of the year from JT Miller and Horvat, my Canucks player to watch.

Ilya Mikheyev added to the home team’s lead with his 13th from Brock Boeser and Horvat.

With no scoring in the middle frame, the Canucks added the final goals in the third.

Dakota Joshua furthers the Canucks lead with his 8th with the assist by Horvat and Boeser.

Pettersson closes the home Canucks scoring with his second of the game and 21st of the campaign. The power play goal was assisted by Miller and Hughes.

The final goal of the game came from Marchenko for his second of the night and 13th career goal. Captain Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau had the apples on the Columbus marker.

Bo Horvat was my Canucks player to watch, given his dilemma within the organization. The first rounder is a pending UFA, and had 4 assists on the night. He had points on all three first period goals.

Colin Delia was the starter for Vancouver, allowing 2 goals on 26 shots faced for a 0.923 save percentage.

For Columbus, I had Vladislav Gavrikov in back to back games with his interest in the league and the division. Helped with the Oilers rumors prior, and the Canucks ones that came out before the game. Gavrikov had a shot on and blocked on goal with 22:13TOI with an even rating.

Joonas Korpisalo stopped 29 of 34 shots for a 0.853 save percentage.

CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Kirill Marchenko — 2PPG (13)

2. Johnny Gaudreau — assist (35)

3. Patrik Laine — assist (16)


CBJ P50 — Ex-CBJ Get 1st Kraken Win

For the first time in franchise history, the Seattle Kraken defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets by the final score of 3-1.

Morgan Geekie opened the scoring for the game and host Kraken with his 5th goal of the season. Brandon Tanev and Carson Soucy had the helpers.

Alex Wennberg would be credited with the eventual game winning goal for his 10th of the season; Jordan Eberle and Vince Dunn had the assists.

Kent Johnson got the lone Columbus goal with his 10th of the season. Jack Roslovic had the lone assist.

Eeli Tolvanen got his 10th of the season from Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Phillip Grubauer stopped 24 of 25 shots for a 0.960 save percentage.

Oliver Bjorkstrand was my player to watch for the Seattle Kraken, as this is the first game he played against his former team. Bjorkstrand had an assist against his draft city, with one shot on goal and a +1 rating in 15:17TOI.

Kent Johnson was my Columbus player to watch, given his Pacific Northwest ties and got his 10th goal of the season. KJ had 2 shots on 18 shifts for 19:54TOI.

Elvis Merzlikins had 28 saves on 31 shots for a 0.903 save percentage.

CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Kent Johnson -- goal (10)

2. Jack Roslovic -- assist (23)

3. Elvis Merzlikins -- 28 saves


Other News and Notes

On Pederson -- We Welcome forward Lane Pederson to the organization, joining from the waiver wire courtesy of the Vancouver Canucks.

Pederson, 25, is a pending RFA with a cap hit of $750K. He has gone from Arizona to San Jose to Carolina to Vancouver to Columbus from July 2021 to present. That is a lot of air miles on his card.

Pederson was in the Adin Hill, Brent Burns, and Etha Bear trades. All pieces and names that have value.

On Gavrikov -- add Vancouver to LA, Pit, Toronto, Edmonton, Minnesota, Ottawa

On Nyquist -- no timetable on his injury; now leaves Johnny Hockey to be only healthy Blue Jackets player remaining from the opening night roster.

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