Blue Jackets at Avalanche
The Columbus Blue Jackets look to rebound from a disappointing loss and record their first regulation victory of the season when they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Columbus split its first two games of the season, posting a shootout triumph over the Predators in Nashville on Saturday before losing in the bonus format to the Detroit Red Wings at home on Monday. The Blue Jackets opened the scoring at Phoenix on Wednesday before allowing five unanswered goals en route to a 5-1 loss.
Colorado dropped its season opener to the Wild in Minnesota on Saturday and fell behind at home against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. But captain Gabriel Landeskog and David Jones scored 95 seconds apart early in the third period and PA Parenteau tallied later in the session as the Avalanche rallied for the win. Following its meeting with Columbus, Colorado begins a four-game road trip Saturday against the Sharks in San Jose.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (1-1-1): After watching from the bench as Sergei Bobrovsky played well in the team's first two games, Steve Mason made his first start and faced 42 shots against the Coyotes. Defenseman Fedor Tyutin gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead with his first goal of the season. It marked the first time this campaign Columbus netted the opening tally. Coach Todd Richards was unhappy with his team's effort against Phoenix. "Lots of things that we have to address and repair," he said. "Some of it came down to a pure will, a want to compete and battle. We've had it, and when we lose it is when we become undisciplined and make some bad mistakes. We unraveled."
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (1-1-0): Colorado's victory over Los Angeles was costly as right wing Steve Downie suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will need season-ending knee surgery. Downie, who notched two goals and 11 assists in 20 games after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning last February, was injured while attempting to hit Kings defenseman Davis Drewiske early in the second period. Signed to a two-year, $5.3 million contract during the offseason, the 25-year-old recorded an assist in the Avalanche's season-opening loss at Minnesota. Center Brad Malone was recalled from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League. The 23-year-old recorded two assists in nine games with the Avalanche last season, his first in the NHL.
OVERTIME
1. The teams split their four-game series last season, with each winning twice on the road.
2. Colorado has 14 players tied for the team lead with one point apiece.
3. Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov is 12-3-1 with a 1.97 goals-against average in his last 16 home games.
PREDICTION: Avalanche 3, Blue Jackets 2.