With an extra day off after Wednesday’s 5-4 overtime loss, the Colorado Avalanche (4-4-1) will need a bounce-back effort in Saturday’s rematch as the team takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets (6-3-0). The Avs rallied two erase a two-goal deficit in the third period as Bowen Byram scored the equalizer with 52 seconds remaining.
However, Columbus defenseman Jake Bean scored his second of the game just over a minute into the extra session, snapping Colorado’s two-game win streak.
Saturday’s game is at 7:00 PM Eastern on ESPN+, Altitude Sports, and Bally Sports Ohio.
Avalanche News and Game Notes
The Avalanche have struggled with injuries, illnesses, and absences early this season and have yet to play a game with their full roster. Devon Toews is healthy and expected to make his season debut on Saturday, but Cale Makar (lower body) has been added to injured reserve. Once Nathan MacKinnon returned from COVID-19 protocols, Mikko Rantanen (lower body) and Andre Burakovsky (lower body) went on the injured list.
Even with Toews, Rantanen, and Burakovsky expected to return to the lineup on Saturday; the Avalanche will still be without Makar, Valeri Nichushkin (upper body), Martin Kaut (shoulder), Stefan Matteau (leg), and Pavel Francouz (ankle).
For a team like Colorado with sky-high expectations this NHL season, The first nine games have been massively underwhelming. Their futures odds to win the Stanley Cup have slipped from +450 to +600, and things at home (2-2-1) haven’t been any better than on the road (2-2-0).
With Jonas Johansson playing all of Wednesday’s game, Darcy Kuemper is likely to be back between the pipes for Saturday’s contest. This season, Kuemper has a 4-3-0 record, a 2.87 GAA, and a .904 save percentage.
Blue Jackets News and Game Notes
Columbus has exceeded the expectations for this season which admittedly may have been too low, to begin with. Jakub Voracek has been a star since returning to the organization after ten seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, and he leads the team in assists (nine). Oliver Bjorkstrand has tallied eight points in his last six games, and captain Boone Jenner leads the squad with six goals.
Younger players have stepped up as well. Jake Bean has been excellent on the blue line opposite Zach Werenski, Cole Sillinger is among the rookie points leaders, and Yegor Chinakhov has been bumped up to the top line with Sillinger in Voracek.
Like the Avs, Columbus is dealing with several key injuries. Patrik Laine suffered an oblique strain and was added to the injured reserve on Friday. Max Domi is in COVID-19 protocols and may not be back on Saturday. Defenseman Adam Boqvist (lower body) and Dean Kukan (fractured wrist) are out as well.
The Blue Jackets haven’t announced a starting goaltender yet, and with no games on the schedule until next Friday, they could go either way here. Joonas Korpisalo may be slightly more likely to start. He has a 2-2-0 record this season, along with a 3.43 GAA and a .905 save percentage. On the other hand, Elvis Merzlikins could get the nod as well; Merzlikins is 4-1-0 this season with a 1.98 GAA and a .939 save percentage.
Odds and Betting Pick
Moneyline: Colorado Avalanche (-170) at Columbus Blue Jackets (+150)
Puck Line: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 goals (+150) at Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5 goals (-170)
Total: OVER 5.5 (-105), UNDER 5.5 (-115).
Odds updated as of 9:00 AM Eastern on Saturday, Nov 6.
With all things considered, the Avalanche have an overall more skilled and healthier roster than the Blue Jackets, but Columbus is playing better as a team right now. Colorado should win this game, but it will take a significant effort to get back into the win column.
Taking the Avalanche on the moneyline is the safe play here, but given his early-season inconsistencies, Colorado becomes an interesting puck line play if Korpisalo is named the starter.
Betting Pick: Colorado Avalanche moneyline (-170)