NHL

Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets

· National Hockey League

Columbus hosts Colorado after Marchenko's hat trick

Colorado Avalanche (46-26-4, in the Central Division) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (34-30-9, in the Metropolitan Division)

Columbus, Ohio; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

Avalanche -159, Blue Jackets +133; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Colorado Avalanche after Kirill Marchenko recorded a hat trick in the Blue Jackets' 8-4 win against the Nashville Predators.

Columbus has a 34-30-9 record overall and a 22-9-5 record on its home ice. The Blue Jackets are 6-7-8 in games decided by a single goal.

Colorado is 46-26-4 overall and 21-15-1 in road games. The Avalanche have a +41 scoring differential, with 251 total goals scored and 210 conceded.

Thursday's game is the second time these teams meet this season. The Blue Jackets won the previous matchup 6-4.

TOP PERFORMERS: Marchenko has 31 goals and 39 assists for the Blue Jackets. Boone Jenner has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

Nathan MacKinnon has 30 goals and 81 assists for the Avalanche. Cale Makar has five goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jackets: 3-6-1, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.6 assists, three penalties and 6.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.

Avalanche: 7-2-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.6 assists, 2.9 penalties and 6.1 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.

INJURIES: Blue Jackets: None listed.

Avalanche: None listed.

Regular Season Series

CBJ lead series 1-0

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/col.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCOL https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/cbj.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCBJ
2.76 Goals Against Average 3.36
25.9 Shots Against per Game 29.7
79.5 Penalty Kill Percentage 75.8
39 Power Play Goals Against 48
0 Short Handed Goals Against 0
3.30 Goals For per Game 3.23
29.8 Shots per Game 29.1
54 Power Play Goals 33
24.9 Power Play Percentage 19.3
5 Short Handed Goals 9
514 Penalty Minutes 595
Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Owen Sillinger, C Out Mar 18
Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Jonathan Drouin, LW Day-To-Day Apr 2
Josh Manson, D Out Apr 1
Sean Behrens, D Out Oct 8
Tucker Poolman, D Injured Reserve Oct 6

Game Information

Nationwide Arena

Location: Columbus, OH
Capacity:

2024-25 Central Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Winnipeg 4 20 106 51
Dallas 4 21 102 49
Colorado 4 26 96 46
Minnesota 7 28 89 41
St. Louis 7 28 89 41
Utah 12 29 80 34
Nashville 8 40 62 27
Chicago 10 44 52 21

2024-25 Metropolitan Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Washington 9 18 105 48
Carolina 4 24 96 46
New Jersey 7 29 87 40
NY Rangers 7 32 79 36
Columbus 9 30 77 34
NY Islanders 10 32 74 32
Pittsburgh 11 34 71 30
Philadelphia 9 36 71 31
Full Standings
Avalanche Last 5
Date OPP Result
vs DET W 5-2
vs LA W 4-0
vs STL L 2-1
vs CGY L 3-2 SO
@ CHI W 3-2 SO
Blue Jackets Last 5
Date OPP Result
@ PIT L 6-3
@ NYI W 4-3 SO
vs VAN W 7-6 SO
@ OTT L 3-2
vs NSH W 8-4