Columbus Blue Jackets (58 pts) vs. Colorado Avalanche (93 pts) Game Preview
Another game against a top team on a long winning streak, such is life when you're the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Colorado Avalanche come into this game riding a 7-game winning streak, and their star Nathan MacKinnon has a 16-game points streak, while also getting points in 31 of his last 34 games.
The Avalanche are really good, and the CBJ are going to have their hands full, especially when they will be playing with a minimum of 5, and maybe 6 AHL players in the lineup.
The Avalanche are currently 2nd in the Central Division, 3rd in the West, and 6th in the NHL.
Series History vs. The Avalanche
- Columbus is 11-20-2 all-time in Colorado, and 22-37-6 in all meetings.
- The Jackets are 8-5-1 in the last 14 road games.
Who To Watch For The Avalanche
- Nathan MacKinnon has 117 points on the season and has a total of 19 points against the CBJ in his career.
- Cale Makar has 75 points this season and has 8 points in 4 games against the Jackets.
- Mikko Rantanen has 93 points and has 11 points in 10 games against Columbus.
- Alexandar Georgiev is 35-15-3 with a save % of .902 on the season.
- Goalie Justus Annunen is 8-5-1 with a save % of .926. He started the Avs last game.
CBJ Player Notes vs. The Avalanche
- Johnny Gaudreau has 18 points in 23 games.
- Boone Jenner has 13 points in 16 games.
- Cole Sillinger has 4 points in 4 career games.
Injuries
- Patrik Laine (clavicle fracture-Dec. 14; NHL Player Assistance Program-Jan. 28); 17 games (for injury)
- Adam Fantilli (calf laceration on Jan. 28); expected to miss 8 weeks (20 games)
- Kent Johnson (shoulder injury on Feb. 28); out the rest of the season (11 games)
- Justin Danforth (concussion on Mar. 7); out indefinitely (6 games)
- Yegor Chinakhov (upper-body injury on Mar. 12); is day-to-day (4 games)
- Sean Kuraly (lower-body injury on Mar. 12); is week-to-week (4 games)
- Adam Boqvist (upper-body injury on Mar. 14); out indefinitely (3 games)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 231
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on Bally Sports Ohio. As always, the legendary Jeff Rimer will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 THE FAN with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
More From THN Columbus
Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.