Kraken (20-18-10) vs. Blue Jackets (15-23-10) | 6:00 p.m.

One: Beniers Back

Before returning to the lineup in Friday’s playoff-atmosphere matchup with St. Louis, Matty Beniers had not played since the Kraken last faced Columbus during the recent six-game road trip. The second-year Kraken center was checked from behind by Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger near the end of the second period. He did not return and missed five games.

Sillinger was penalized for a two-minute boarding minor and the 20-year-old CBJ forward faced no further discipline after NHL review. Fans likely remember Beniers missed about a month last season when hit by Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers. Kraken coach Dave Hakstol liked Beniers’ game Friday, which featured most of his 20 shifts playing between wings Brandon Tanev and rookie Tye Kartye. Getting Beniers back is another important reinforcement for a playoff push that continues with Columbus (home) and San Jose (road, Tuesday) before the heat turns up even higher after the All-Star break and bye week.

“He’s done all the work to be back in the lineup,” said Hakstol. “He's worked very hard and taken all the necessary steps. If anything, we've taken an extra day or two. That's what you do in these situations to make sure a player is ready to come back.

“I liked his game tonight. It was a hard-working game for him. He was good on the puck, very competitive.”

Two: Burakovsky Getting Aligned

When Andre Burakovsky signed his free agent contract in the summer of 2022, he proceeded to become the Kraken’s leading scorer with 13 goals and 26 assists in 49 games going into the All-Star Game break. Injuries have derailed his stats and timeline since his first shift after the ASG break. But sitting at his locker this week, the two-time Stanley Cup winner (Washington 2018, Colorado 2022) was making a case for a brighter second half of the season. Playing alongside Alex Wennberg is part of his optimism and he welcomes the chance to form a line that fills out with the gritty and detail-rich Jaden Schwartz.

I think the first couple games back [from his most recent injury] were really tough for me,” said Burakovsky. “It was hard to establish something and get into the rhythm of the game. The last couple of games have been much better, creating opportunities for me and for my linemates, finding open ice.

With the Gourde line producing on a nightly basis, it would be a playoffs-push bonus if Burakovsky can find his scoring touch and Wennberg prospers from regular linemates. For his part, Burakovsky is extra motivated because he has always wanted to play with Wennberg and appreciates the dimension Schwartz adds to the line.

“Schwartzy is a really hard-working guy who can make a lot of good plays,” said Burakovsky. “ He always goes hard to the net. He likes to be right there in front of me. Wenny and I are two guys who like to hang on to pucks more ... we are both trying to get [Schwartz] to plug in at the net because we know he can really score in that area. We have always wanted to play with each other and we feel comfortable with each other.”

Three: Know the Foe: Columbus 2-4-2 in Last Eight Games

Columbus built a 4-1 lead on Pacific Division leader Vancouver Saturday night in B.C., only to lose the advantage in the third and then the game in overtime. The Blue Jackets beat West playoff contender Calgary 5-2 Thursday night in Alberta. Russia-born goaltender Danil Tarasov, 24, was in net for the Calgary win, making 30 saves. He didn’t play in Vancouver and figures to be in goal Sunday to avenge surrendering six goals on Jan. 13 when the Kraken were Victors in Columbus. Columbus is finding ice time for rookies ex-Michigan star Adam Fantilli (No. 3 overall, 2023) and 2019 fourth-rounder Dmitri Voronkov. Both are among four NHL rookies with at least 11 goals. Fantilli has 12 and Voronkov has 11 while injured Chicago superstar-to-be Connor Bedard has 15 and Minnesota’s Marco Rossi is next with 13 goals.