Saturday, October 12, 2024 – 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
TV: Bally Sports Ohio – Radio: 105.7 FM
Columbus Blue Jackets (0-1-0, 7th Metropolitan, 13th East)
at
Colorado Avalanche (0-1-0, 8th Central, 15th West)
After an encouraging loss against Minnesota to open the season Thursday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets finish their season opening mini-roadtrip in Denver, to face the Colorado Avalanche. Despite having polar opposite expectations going into the season, the Avs also lost their opening game, 8-4 in Vegas on Wednesday. Something has to give!
Matchup to Watch
Colorado’s top line
Cheating a bit here, but both this game and the Avs’ season will ultimately be determined by the performance of their top line. Nathan MacKinnon is arguably the second best player in the world, and Mikko Rantanen is easily top 15, possibly top 10. Nikolai Kovalenko is a highly-touted KHL prospect that’s finally made his way over, posting 35 points in just 42 games last year in Russia. Stopping this 2.5-headed monster will be paramount, because the bottom nine is… kinda just a bunch of dudes? There’s some quality players in there, don’t get me wrong, but it seems like Colorado is missing an entire second line.
For reference, here’s the combined stats of the two teams’ bottom three lines last year:
Team A: 57 Goals and 79 Assists for 136 points in 398 games
Team B: 58 Goals and 96 Assists for 154 points in 411 games
Surprise! Team B is Columbus! Which isn’t great for Colorado!
Jackets Notes
Boone Jenner had a successful shoulder surgery Thursday, and is expected back some time in the spring. Here’s to hoping the captain has a quick recovery! … Dmitri Voronkov is also on the road to recovery, expected back by the end of November. … In positive injury news, Justin Danforth is on the roadtrip and was a full participant in practice. He’s recovering from a wrist injury. … After spending the third period with Damon Severson in Minnesota, Zach Werenski is back with Ivan Provorov at practice. Perhaps Z and Seeve is more of a “we need offense” situational pairing?
The Other Bench
Colorado claimed goalie Kappo Kapanen off waivers after their 8-4 shelling Wednesday. … Colorado finished 3rd in the Central last year and beat the Jets in the Playoffs, before bowing out to Dallas in Round 2. … Ivan Ivan has the same first and last name. Neat!
Season Series
10/12/2024: CBJ at COL
4/3/2025: COL at CBJ
Stats
(2023-24 Season)
| Colorado | Columbus | |
| 3.68 (1) | GPG | 2.85 (25) |
| 3.07 (17) | GAPG | 3.61 (31) |
| 24.5% (5) | PP% | 15.1% (31) |
| 79.9% (12) | PK% | 76.3% (26) |
| 52.7% (6) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 47.8% (23) |
| 52.1% (7) | 5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt % | 47.5% (25) |
| 9.5% (6) | 5v5 Shooting % | 9.0% (11) |
| .910 (22) | 5v5 Save % | .912 (18) |
| Nathan MacKinnon, 51 | G Leader | Kirill Marchenko, 23 |
| Nathan MacKinnon, 89 | A Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 48 |
| Nathan MacKinnon, 140 | P Leader | Johnny Gaudreau, 60 |
| Josh Manson, 87 | PIM Leader | Erik Gudbranson, 74 |
| 31-9-1 | Home/Road Record | 10-24-7 |
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Yegor Chinakhov | Sean Monahan | Kirill Marchenko |
| James van Reimsdyk | Adam Fantilli | Kevin Labanc |
| Mikael Pyyhtia | Cole Sillinger | Kent Johnson |
| Zach Aston-Reese | Sean Kuraly | Mathieu Olivier |
| Zach Werenski | Ivan Provorov |
| Jake Christiansen | Damon Severson |
| Jack Johnson | Erik Gudbranson |
| Elvis Merzlikins |
| Daniil Tarasov |
Colorado Avalanche
| Nikolai Kovalenko | Nathan MacKinnon | Mikko Rantanen |
| Ross Colton | Cosey Mittelstadt | Calum Ritchie |
| Miles Wood | Parker Kelly | Logan O’Connor |
| Oliver Kylington | Ivan Ivan | Joel Kiviranta |
| Devon Towes | Cale Makar |
| Samuel Girard | Josh Manson |
| Calvin de Haan | Sam Malinski |
| Alexandar Georgiev |
| Kaapo Kahkonen |