NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets at Colorado Avalanche

· National Hockey League

Marchenko, Chinakhov and Monahan each have 3 points as Blue Jackets beat Avalanche 6-4

Nathan MacKinnon scores power-play goal vs. Blue Jackets

Marchenko and Chinakhov both had two assists. Sean Monahan also had a goal and two assists.

Zach Werenski, Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli also scored for Columbus.

Nathan MacKinnon, Miles Wood, Casey Mittelstadt and Ross Colton had goals for the Avalanche, but Alexandar Georgiev gave up three goals on nine shots.

Justus Annunen replaced Georgiev after Fantilli’s goal 1:56 into the second period gave the Blue Jackets a 3-1 lead. Wood and Mittelstadt beat Daniil Tarasov just 1:31 apart to tie it before Marchenko’s go-ahead goal at 4:33.

Tarasov stopped 26 shots.

Colton scored when Annunen went off for an extra skater, but Monahan scored into an empty net to seal it.

Takeaways Blue Jackets: New coach Dean Evason’s team has played well in its first two games, losing by a goal to Minnesota and now beating Colorado to begin the season. The Blue Jackets have seven goals in their first two games.

Avalanche: Two games into the season, there is a goaltender crisis. Georgiev has allowed eight goals on 25 shots. Annunen hasn’t been much better, and claiming Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers is a sign Colorado is concerned about the position.

Key moment MacKinnon, the NHL MVP last season, was honored before the game with a highlight video, and then Denver Nuggets center and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic brought the Hart Trophy out while wearing MacKinnon’s No. 29 jersey.

Key stat Avalanche winger Ivan Ivan got his first NHL point when he assisted on MacKinnon’s goal. MacKinnon scooped up the puck to give to the rookie.

Up next The Blue Jackets play their home opener against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. The Avalanche host the New York Islanders on Monday night.

Regular Season Series

CBJ lead series 1-0

Scoring Summary

Goal 1st Period 6:38 Zach Werenski Goal (2) Snap Shot, assists: Yegor Chinakhov (2), Sean Monahan (1)
Goal 1st Period 7:45 Kent Johnson Goal (2) Snap Shot, assists: Jake Christiansen (1)
Goal 1st Period 19:52 Nathan MacKinnon Goal (1) Slap Shot, assists: Ivan Ivan (1), Mikko Rantanen (1)
Goal 2nd Period 1:56 Adam Fantilli Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Kevin Labanc (1), Daniil Tarasov (1)
Goal 2nd Period 2:11 Miles Wood Goal (1) Snap Shot, assists: Parker Kelly (1), Calvin de Haan (1)
Goal 2nd Period 3:42 Casey Mittelstadt Goal (2) Backhand, assists: Ross Colton (1), Cale Makar (3)
Goal 2nd Period 4:33 Kirill Marchenko Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Damon Severson (2)
Goal 2nd Period 9:49 Yegor Chinakhov Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Sean Monahan (2), Kirill Marchenko (1)
Goal 3rd Period 18:40 Ross Colton Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Nathan MacKinnon (3), Cale Makar (4)
Goal 3rd Period 19:48 Sean Monahan Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Kirill Marchenko (2), Yegor Chinakhov (3)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/cbj.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCBJ https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/col.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCOL
19 Blocked Shots 13
7 Hits 26
8 Takeaways 10
23 Shots 30
1 Power Play Goals 2
3 Power Play Opportunities 4
33.3 Power Play Percentage 50.0
0 Short Handed Goals 0
0 Shootout Goals 0
28 Faceoffs Won 36
43.8 Faceoff Win Percent 56.3
13 Giveaways 11
5 Total Penalties 5
10 Penalty Minutes 18

Game Information

Ball Arena

Location: Denver, CO
Attendance: 18,080 | Capacity:

2024-25 Metropolitan Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Carolina 14 4 28 0
Washington 13 4 27 1
New Jersey 12 7 26 2
NY Rangers 12 4 25 1
NY Islanders 7 7 19 5
Philadelphia 8 10 18 2
Pittsburgh 7 10 18 4
Columbus 7 9 16 2

2024-25 Central Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Winnipeg 16 3 32 0
Minnesota 12 3 27 3
Dallas 12 6 24 0
Colorado 10 9 20 0
Utah 7 8 17 3
St. Louis 8 11 17 1
Nashville 6 11 15 3
Chicago 6 12 13 1
Full Standings