On Tuesday in the NHL, we have the Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets. Colorado comes into this one on the second half of a back-to-back, but is welcoming in a Columbus team that is really struggling.
After a shaky start against the Chicago Blackhawks that had them down 2-0, the Avalanche woke up and scored five unanswered goals, winning 5-2. Prior to their current three-game winning streak, the Avalanche owned an average record of 6-5-1, which was well below their standards. This game presents an excellent opportunity for their fourth-straight win, and it is imperative within a strong Central Division. Columbus enters this one with a measly 5-7-0 record, with their 10 points being the third-lowest in the league. They’ve shown many flaws, but a big challenge for them has been special team success, with a 12.9% power play and 73.0% penalty kill. The Avalanche could absolutely chew them up in those departments. Their advantages in both home ice and rest will not be enough in this matchup against an elite roster and the highest-scoring team in the NHL. I'll back Colorado on the road.
Avalanche vs Blue Jackets prediction: Avalanche ML (-135) available at time of publishing. Playable to -150.
