Columbus Blue Jackets (60 pts) vs. Colorado Avalanche (100 pts) Game Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche last played on March 22nd. Damon Severson scored just over four minutes into the game, but the next 55 minutes belonged to the Avs. There isn't a word that describes what the Avalanche did to the CBJ that night.
Colorado is 8-1-1 in their 10 games and went 10-2-1 in March. Nathan MacKinnon has continued to score points at an alarming rate. His 127 points now lead the NHL, and his teammate Mikko Rantanen is also at 100 points. My preseason pick to win the Stanley Cup was Colorado and it seems like they could very well do just that.
The Avs are currently 2nd in the Central Division, 2nd in the West, and 5th in the NHL.
Series History vs. The Avalanche
- Columbus is 11-17-4 at home vs. the Avs and 22-38-6 in all meetings.
- The Blue Jackets are 6-4-3 in the last 13 home games and 4-1-1 in the last six games at home against Colorado.
Who To Watch For The Avalanche
- Nathan MacKinnon has 21 points in 18 games against the CBJ. He also has 127 points this season.
- Cale Makar has 10 points in 5 games vs. the Jackets. He has 81 points this season.
- Mikko Rantanen has 14 points in 11 games vs. the Blue Jackets. He has 100 points this season.
- Alexandar Georgiev is 37-15-4 with a save % of .901.
- Justus Annunen is 6-3-1 with a save % of .932.
CBJ Player Notes vs. The Avalanche
- Johnny Gaudreau has 19 points in 24 games against the Avalanche.
- Zach Werenski has 7 points in 13 games.
- Boone Jenner has 14 points in 17 games. It's unknown if he'll play tonight.
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 (25 games)
- Kent Johnson (shoulder injury on Feb. 28); out the rest of the season (16 games)
- Justin Danforth (concussion on Mar. 7); out indefinitely (11 games) - Practiced Sunday and is expected to play on Monday.
- Yegor Chinakhov (upper-body injury on Mar. 12); is day-to-day (9 games)
- Sean Kuraly (lower-body injury on Mar. 12); is week-to-week (9 games) - skating
- Adam Boqvist (upper-body injury on Mar. 14); out indefinitely (8 games)
- Boone Jenner (illness on Mar. 30); is day-to-day (1 game)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 264
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.