Well, the Jackets did the damn thing this weekend to open up the 2021-22 season. In a resounding 8-2 win on Thursday night, the Jackets sent the Coyotes home with their tails between their legs - which was especially meaningful, given that Matiss Kivlenieks’ family was in Columbus from Latvia to do a ceremonial pre-game puck drop and watch his memorial banner unfurl over the ice.
On Saturday night, the Jackets faced a new opponent - it was the inaugural visit of the Seattle Kraken to Nationwide Arena. It was a slower game for scoring than Thursday, but the Jackets kept it interesting, coming from behind to win in overtime off a Laine laser.