The Blue Jackets currently own a 6-3-0 record while the Avalanche maintain a 4-4-1
record. This will conclude the regular season series between Colorado and Columbus.
COLORADO-ST. LOUIS CONNECTIONS
The Blue Jackets drafted defensemen Ryan Murray second overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. He spent his first seven seasons with the club before a season with the New Jersey Devils and now the Colorado Avalanche… Jack Johnson spent parts of seven seasons in Columbus before his tenure with the Avs (2012-2018)… Stefan Matteau spent the previous two seasons with Columbus… Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was the head coach of Columbus' AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, guiding the team to the 2016 Calder Cup championship. He was also previously the head coach and assistant coach of the Jackets' AHL affiliate in Springfield from 2012-2015… Avs assistant coach Nolan Pratt coached as an assistant with the Monsters during that championship season and was an assistant in Springfield from 2011-2015… Colorado assistant general manager Chris MacFarland spent 16 years in hockey operations for the Blue Jackets, including eight as the assistant general manager… Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen was drafted by the Avs (fourth round, 87th overall) in 1997 and played 66 games for the Avs over four seasons from 1998-2002.
HISTORY
Colorado currently owns a 40-16-6 record against Columbus all-time. Their last matchup ended in a 5-4 overtime loss for the Avs, their first overtime loss of the season.
ROSTER REPORT
Darcy Kuemper will return to start in the rematch against Columbus. Head coach Jared Bednar says Mikko Rantanen, Andre Burakovsky and Devon Toews are considered probable to play.
INJURY REPORT
Forward Mikko Rantanen has running drills and practicing with skills coach Shawn Allard in a blue full-contact jersey. Andre Burakovsky returned to the team after being out on Wednesday night with an upper-body injury. Devon Toews has been practicing with the squad after full contact approval. Head coach Jared Bednar stated that all three should be available pending morning practice performance. Cale Makar remains away from practice due to an upper body injury. Martin Kaut continues to be evaluated on a week-to-week basis with an upper body injury. Valeri Nichushkin remains rehabbing an upper body injury. Stefan Matteau is still out for weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered on Oct. 16th. Pavel Francouz continues to operate on a week-to-week basis.
SCOUTING THE BLUE JACKETS
With a 6-3-0 record, Columbus heads home from a three-game road trip for a four-game homestand. After their last contest, the Blue Jackets have now secured three wins in overtime, plus one after a shootout.
Columbus is tied for the eighth-best power play in the league at 25 percent, while maintaining 80 percent on penalty kills. Columbus right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand is currently tied for second in points among all right-wing players.
(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: Cole Sillinger
Rookie Cole Sillinger posted two goals and an assist in Denver on Wednesday, more than doubling his point total for the season, now at five. He leads the team in shots at 27 and had a hand in the game-winning play, an assist in overtime.
NUMBERS GAME
8
Bowen Byram is third in points for all rookies this season with eight. Two more points would tie him for first.
6
Nazem Kadri doubled his assist total, now at 6 for the season, after posting 3 assists against Columbus on Wednesday.
300
With two assists on Wednesday, captain Gabriel Landeskog has reached 300 career assists and moved to 10th place in franchise history for assists.
NOTEBOOK
Defenseman Erik Johnson needs 1 game to pass Matt Duchene (586) for the seventh-most games played in Avalanche history (since 1995-96) and needs one goal to tie Rob Blake (62) for fourth place in franchise history among defenders... The Avs are 40-16-6 all-time against Columbus, the third-best record of any team against the Blue Jackets behind Nashville (65-22-8) and Pittsburgh (28-10-4)
