After dropping a pair of games to open their trip to California, the Blue Jackets have pulled together two consecutive wins, and look to build on that tonight as they take on the Colorado Avalanche in the second of a four-game home stand.
Here’s what’s ahead tonight:
Matchup:
Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets
Nationwide Arena, 7:00 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Ohio
What to Watch for:
- The Blue Jackets, winners of two straight, couldn't pick a better time to go on a run. With winnable games coming up (at home) against the Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, and the Montreal Canadiens, the time is now for the Blue Jackets to stack up points. They're ahead of the Florida Panthers by two points, but with the 'Cats having three games in hand, that's extremely misleading. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils are set to begin a gauntlet on the road, and their three-point lead over Columbus could be in jeopardy.
- I don't have a Hart Trophy vote, but if I did, Nathan MacKinnon would be my clubhouse leader. The 22-year-old, who was highlighted in our Kyle Morrison's weekly heat-check, leads the league in points/game at 1.34. His 78 points puts him tied for fourth overall in the league, though he missed eight games due to injury earlier this winter. If this team does the unthinkable and goes from historically bad franchise to playoff participant in one year's time, a lion's share of the success has to be attributed to the play of their dynamic center.
- Hello, old friends! Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar will certainly be familiar with the Blue Jackets, as he coached many of the current players to a Calder Cup Championship in Lake Erie back in 2015-16. Chris MacFarland, the Avs' assistant GM, was a Blue Jackets executive from 2000 through 2014-15. He, too, has great familiarity of the Columbus roster. With both team's playing meaningful games in March, there's more than just bragging rights on the line in this one.
Tale of the Tape:
Avalanche
35-24-7 (5th in Central Division)
PP: 20.3 (15th) / PK: 83.3% (3rd)
5v5 Corsi: 47.64% (26th)
Blue Jackets
34-28-5 (5th in Metropolitan Division)
PP: 14.5% (30th) / PK: 77.3% (25th)
5v5 Corsi: 51.66% (7th)
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