Avalanche Seek Fourth Straight Win
The Colorado Avalanche will look to continue their strong start to the season when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. The Avalanche have recorded at least a point in all four of their games so far, going 3-0-1. Led by the dynamic duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, Colorado boasts one of the NHL's most talented rosters and is expected to be a Stanley Cup contender.
Blue Jackets Searching for Answers
In contrast, the Blue Jackets have stumbled out of the gate, posting a 1-2-0 record through their first three games. Offense has been a major issue, as Columbus has scored just five goals so far. Head coach Brad Larsen has already shuffled his lines and power-play units in search of a spark. The Blue Jackets will need to find a way to slow down the Avalanche's high-powered attack if they hope to pull off the upset at home.
Goaltending Battle
One key matchup to watch will be in net, where the Avalanche's Mackenzie Blackwood is progressing well from an injury but is unlikely to play this week. That means Colorado will likely turn to either Pavel Francouz or Jonas Johansson, both of whom have performed admirably in the early going. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, will counter with either Joonas Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins, who have both struggled to find consistency.
TL;DR
- The Colorado Avalanche (3-0-1) visit the Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2-0) on Thursday night
- The Avalanche boast one of the NHL's most talented rosters and are seeking their fourth straight win
- The Blue Jackets have sputtered offensively to start the season and will need to find a way to slow down Colorado's attack
- Goaltending could be a key factor, with the Avalanche's Blackwood unlikely to play and the Blue Jackets' netminders searching for answers