Exhale.
The Blue Jackets losing streak came to an an end in a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Oliver Bjorkstrand opened the scoring just 53 seconds into the first period, giving him goals in three straight games and four of six. The goal was also his 10th tally of the season.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| AVALANCHE | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
The rest of the first period was a back and forth affair. Erik Johnson scored to tie the game at one, but Pierre-Luc Dubois responded just 1:03 later with his 20th goal of the season.
A late first period blast by Nikita Zadorov and a second period three-on-two goal by Samuel Girard gave the Avalanche their first lead of the game, but Cam Atkinson scored his 29th goal of the season late in the second period on a breakaway after an incredible touch pass by Artemi Panarin.
The third period saw the each team fail to convert on a power play opportunity before Josh Anderson at the 10:29 mark, after a textbook forecheck from Nick Foligno and Boone Jenner. The goal was the power forward's 17th of the season.
The goal was challenged by the Avalanche for offside but was upheld. As a result of the failed challenge, the Avalanche were assessed a bench-minor penalty for delay of game. On the subsequent power play, Alexander Wennberg scored his second goal of the season to extend the lead to 5-3.
Dubois added an empty net, his 21st of the year, at 18:32 as he out-hustled the Avalanche defense on a delayed icing.
Sergei Bobrovsky, who was solid when he was called upon, stopped 27 of 30 shots.
Game Notes
The Blue Jackets have killed off 34 of 35 penalty kills in 2019.... Dean Kukan tallied two assists, his first points of the season... Wennberg's goal was his second of the year, and both have come on special teams. His first, 34 games ago on November 10, was scored shorthanded... Dubois reached the 20 goal mark for the second time in two seasons... Panarin's season statistics read as clean as they come: 50 GP, 20-40-60.... Bobrovsky's win was his 20th of the season... All three of the Avalanche goals were scored by defensemen....The Blue Jackets power play is 8 for 27 over the last nine games.
Injury Update
Ryan Murray (lower body) and Brandon Dubinsky (lower body) were both held out of the game but are listed as day-to-day.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets continue their three-game road trip as they travel to Glendale, AZ, to take on the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night at 9 p.m. ET.
