Columbus rookies Mateychuk and Del Bel Belluz have a goal and an assist each in 6-2 win over Seattle
Seattle Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko, left, passes the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Credit: AP/Paul Vernon
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Denton Mateychuk and Luca Del Bel Belluz, both recent callups from the AHL, each had a goal and an assist to help lift the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Seattle Kraken 6-2 on Thursday night.
Zach Werenski also added a goal and an assist, extending his home point streak to 16 games, as the Blue Jackets won their third straight.
Sean Kuraly, Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko also scored. James van Riemsdyk contributed two assists, and Elvis Merzlikins made 29 saves for Columbus. Mateychuk's goal was the first of his NHL career.
Eeli Tolvanen scored twice for Seattle, which has lost four straight. Philipp Grubauer stopped 14 shots before being replaced late in the second period by Joey Daccord, who saved all four shots he faced in his first game action since suffering an upper-body injury on Dec. 22 against the Colorado Avalanche.
Takeaways
Seattle: The Kraken dominated shots and puck possession early and were competitive through the first 20 minutes. They were overwhelmed in the second period and started their five-game road trip with a loss.
Columbus: After a slow start, the Blue Jackets found their rhythm and dominated the final two periods. Contributions from recent Cleveland callups helped them secure their 14th home win this season.
Key moment
The Blue Jackets were tied after one period but erupted in the second, scoring four unanswered goals in 12:16. The surge broke the game open and forced Grubauer from the net.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko, right, celebrates his empty-net goal against the Seattle Kraken with teammate forward Dmitri Voronkov, left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Credit: AP/Paul Vernon
Key stat
Del Bel Belluz has played in only two NHL games and scored in both. His first goal came on April 16 against Carolina.
Up next
Both teams are on the road Saturday, when the Kraken visit Buffalo and the Blue Jackets visit St. Louis.
