Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets will head to Colorado to take on the Avalanche in this cross-conference game. The puck drop for this game is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. eastern from the Ball Arena.
Columbus comes into this game after a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. This was the first win for the Blue Jackets, where they had to get the job done in a shootout. The Avalanche have won back-to-back games after a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. With these wins, they take their overall record back to an even 4-4.
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Betting Odds & Lines
BetUs has the Avalanche as the clear moneyline favorite at -200. They have the Blue Jacket’s moneyline at +170.
Over at BetOnline, they also have the Avalanche as the favorite at -198. Both sportsbooks have the goal total set at 5½.
Looking For Consistency in Columbus
The Blues Jackets will try to win back-to-back games since the first two games of the season. Columbus has found themselves going back and forth for the last couple of weeks, unable to really get into a rhythm. The coaching staff has to hope a big shootout victory will help get the locker room excited and potentially propel them into winning another one.
Oliver Bjorkstand is currently leading the team with ten total points. Through eight games, he has scored four goals and assisted on six others. Patrik Laine is right behind him with eight points, scoring three goals, and has five assists. The offense is currently averaging 2.75 goals per game, which keeps them right around league average.
Is Colorado Back?
The Avalanche have not started the season the way most people assumed they would. After a solid 2020 campaign, expectations were very high in Colorado. Unfortunately, the start has not gone as planned, and they just seemed out of sorts. These last two games, however, Colorado seems to be picking it up, scoring four goals in both games.
Nathan MacKinnon, who has only played in six games due to injury, is back in the lineup and producing. He is leading the team with ten total points, which he has tallied at least one point in all six games. Gabriel Landeskog and J.T. Compher are tied for second with eight points. The offense has to keep scoring goals, as they are averaging just 2.88 goals per game.
Goaltender Matchup
Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo have both received starts at goaltender so far this season. Merzlikins is 4-1 and is giving up just 1.98 goals per game. Korpisalo has started 1-2 and is giving up 3.27 goals per game. It is safe to assume, going forward, Merzlikins will start taking a majority of the starts.
Darcy Kuemper has been the main goaltender for the Avalanche. He has started seven of eight games, has a 4-3 record, and is giving up 2.87 goals per game. This is Kuemper’s first season since 2018, where he will be the featured goaltender. Adjusting to the workload may take a minute, but he has proven to be a solid option at goaltender.
The Picks
This is the Blue Jackets’ fourth road game of the season. They are currently 1-2 when they have to travel. When they are away, they are averaging 1.66 goals per game.
The Avalanche have a 2-2 record for home games this season. In the four games they have played, they are averaging an even three goals per game.
As far as goaltenders go, it depends on who Columbus sends out there. If Merzlikins is not in the net, this could be a blowout.
When making your NHL picks, take the Colorado Avalanche moneyline.
