Blue Jackets lean on call-ups Luca Del Bel Belluz and Owen Sillinger in rout of Kraken

COLUMBUS, Ohio Owen Sillinger got the call hed always dreamed about early Thursday morning.

It was AHL Clevelands general manager, Chris Clark, letting the 27-year-old brother of Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger that hed been recalled to the NHL for the first time.

It wasnt until later in the day around noon or 1 p.m., Owen Sillinger said that he knew for sure hed be in the Blue Jackets lineup that night against the Seattle Kraken in Nationwide Arena.

Advertisement There was barely any time to think, he said, and barely any time to get nervous.

When did the moment finally hit home? When I walked in the dressing room and saw everybodys smiling face and how welcoming they were, Sillinger said.

I said, Were going to have a good one tonight.' Indeed.

The Blue Jackets, playing without two of their top-three centers, made quick work of the Kraken.

Six different players scored goals and four players had multi-point games as Columbus rode a four-goal second period to a 6-2 rout of Seattle before 15,497 in Nationwide.

Thats three straight wins and six wins in their last eight for the Blue Jackets (19-17-6), who climbed two games over .500 for the first time since Dec.

1.

They also held on to the eighth and final playoff spot the second wild card in the traffic jam that is the Eastern Conference.

Beyond the Blue Jackets winning, it was a magical, memorable night at the rink for at least three players and their families.

Sillinger, who signed his first NHL contract last July 1, became the eighth-oldest player to make his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets.

Ironically, he took Cole Sillingers spot, because the younger Sillinger was bedridden with a flu-like illness.

1ST @NHL GAME 1ST DONKEY #CBJ pic.twitter.com/hV6eo1zMtq Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 10, 2025 Then there was Luca Del Bel Belluz , who was recalled on Wednesday when it was learned that No.

1 center Sean Monahan is out indefinitely with a wrist injury.

Del Bel Belluz, playing in his second NHL game, had a goal, an assist and a plus-2 rating, while winning 7 of 13 faceoffs.

Del Bel Belluz became the first player in franchise history to score a goal in his first two games.

He scored in his NHL debut on his first NHL shot last spring when he was recalled to play the final game of the season.

Advertisement The Blue Jackets moved second-year-pro Adam Fantilli up to take Monahans spot between wingers Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko , while Del Bel Belluz assumed a lofty role on the No.

2 line between James van Riemsdyk and Kent Johnson .

Del Bel Belluz worked his way to the net and scored from just outside the crease, redirecting a centering pass from van Riemsdyk to give the Jackets a 2-1 lead.

Those guys are awesome guys, Del Bel Belluz said of his linemates.

All of the guys made it easy for me.

They were very welcoming, just awesome people.

Sillinger, who spent four years at Bemidji State University in Minnesota and has spent four years in the minors, played on the fourth line between wingers Kevin Labanc and Mikael Pyyhtia .

Any time you can join a team, win a game and have a positive impact, thats great, Sillinger said.

And thats what I thought I did tonight.

2 GAMES, 2 GOALS FOR LDBB! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/jyfZFAfEU1 Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 10, 2025 Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said he and the franchises other decision makers, including GM Don Waddell, have a philosophy about call-ups from Cleveland.

Rather than shelter them deep in the lineup, they try to play them in NHL roles that are similar to what they play in the AHL.

When we call a guy up, its not to play three minutes, or just because hes coming up from the minors he has to play on the so-called fourth line, Evason said.

The mindset is: This is who they are.

This is where we want to play them.

We put them in those spots to have success.

Another memorable moment: At 12:27 of the second period, Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk playing his eighth NHL game since being recalled from Cleveland scored the first goal of his career.

It came during a flurry of second-period goals that blew the game wide open.

Advertisement Mateychuk found space in the lower left circle and buried a shot off a pass from van Riemsdyk at 12:27 to give the Jackets a 4-1 lead.

Just after Mateychuk scored, the Blue Jackets showed his father, Jason, celebrating in the stands, drawing a huge cheer from the crowd.

I wouldnt be here without him, said Denton Mateychuk, who hails from Dominion City, Manitoba, population 319.

Hes done so much for me over the years.

It was awesome to have him in attendance.

YOU'LL NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST! @FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/GchXZLZ1ad Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 10, 2025 The Blue Jackets pulled away by scoring three goals in less than five minutes in the second period.

It was 5-1 after two periods, making for a sloppy third period for both clubs.

Marchenko capped the scoring with 28.4 seconds remaining, scoring an empty-net goal from the neutral zone.

It marked the 10th time this season in 42 games that the Blue Jackets have scored six or more goals in a game, tops in the NHL.

The franchise record is 11, set during the 2018-19 season.

Zach Werenski (1-1-2) was among the players with multi-point games, giving him a 16-game home-point streak.

Hes only the seventh defenseman in NHL history to have a home streak of that length.

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / Imagn Images).

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