The Columbus Blue Jackets (3-7-0) will be hoping to halt their losing run when they face the Colorado Avalanche (4-4-1) at Nokia Arena in Tampere on Friday. Columbus is coming off a high-scoring 7-1 loss against the Devils on Sunday, their third defeat in a row.
The Blue Jackets committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Yegor Chinakhov was the only player to find the net for the Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins only had 46 saves on 53 shots against (.867%) in the loss.
Colorado fell 5-4 to the Islanders on Saturday. Evan Rodrigues was the leading goal scorer for the Avalanche, netting twice. Alexandar Georgiev saved only 39 of 43 shots against (.906%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Blue Jackets won both games between the teams last season, including a 4-2 victory in their final meeting in November. Vladislav Gavrikov and Chinakhov each had two points (0G 2A) to lead Columbus. Andre Burakovsky led Colorado with two goals. Merzlikins got the win, saving 34 of 36 shots (.944%).
FACING OFF
Columbus is averaging 2.60 goals per game so far this season, 28th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 3.00 goals a game (12th). Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 3.11 times a game on average, 15th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score a league-worst 4.40 goals per game.
The Avalanche’s 39.29% power play percentage is the best in the league, while the Blue Jackets rank 32nd with a conversion rate of just 0.00%. While efficient on the power play, Colorado has been less successful at penalty killing, as the team owns the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 69.70%. Columbus’ 81.25% ranks 10th in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With eight points this season, Johnny Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has five goals and three assists in 10 games. In the net, Daniil Tarasov (1-3-0) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 3.57 GAA and a .893% save percentage. Merzlikins (2-4-0) leads the Blue Jackets in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 4.75 and a save percentage of .864%.Valeri Nichushkin and Nathan MacKinnon lead the Avalanche in scoring with 12 points apiece (9th in the league).
Nichushkin has seven goals (4th in the league) and five assists in seven games, while MacKinnon has three goals and nine assists (7th) in nine games. Mikko Rantanen has four goals and seven assists. Georgiev (4-1-1) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.81. He has a save percentage of .918%.
HOME AND AWAY
Columbus is 1-3-0 away from home this season. Colorado is 1-1-1 as the home team this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Colorado Avalanche
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
