The Columbus Blue Jackets host the high-flying Colorado Avalanche in a battle of contrasting fortunes. The Avalanche, with their sights firmly set on the Stanley Cup, boast the NHL’s second-best record (47-21-6) and are red-hot, winning 8 of their last 10 games. The Blue Jackets (24-38-12), already eliminated from playoff contention, will look to play spoiler against the President’s Trophy favorites.
Make your picks for Blue Jackets vs Avalanche at BetMGM: Click Here!
Breakdown: A Tale of Two Teams
| Team | Columbus Blue Jackets | Colorado Avalanche |
| Record | 22-45-5 | 48-15-9 |
| O/U Record | 32-36-4 | 38-30-4 |
| Spread Record | 28-39-5 | 42-23-7 |
| Injuries | Elvis Merzlikins (G), Zach Werenski (D) | None |
| Key players to watch | Johnny Gaudreau (LW), Kirill Marchenko (RW) | Nathan MacKinnon (C), Mikko Rantanen (RW) |
Now, The NHL teams, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche will face each other today, Monday, April 1, 2024
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
- Live Stream: ESPN+ (out-of-market), ALT (Avalanche local market), BSOH (Blue Jackets local market)
The weather in Columbus, Ohio for the Avalanche vs Blue Jackets game on April 1st looks like it might be a bit wet. There’s a chance of scattered thunderstorms throughout the day with a high of 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit) and a low of 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit). The wind will be coming from the northeast at 11 kilometers per hour (7 miles per hour).
Now, focusing on the Columbus Blue Jackets versus Colorado Avalanche game preview, the Blue Jackets are in desperate need of a turnaround. After dropping 8 of their last 10 contests, their defense has been leaky (allowing over 3.6 goals per game) and their offense hasn’t been much better (averaging just 2.9 goals per game).
On the other side of the ice, the Colorado Avalanche is on fire. They’ve won a blistering 8 out of their last 9 games and boast a league-leading offense, averaging a whopping 3.74 goals per game. However, injuries have struck the Avalanche, with key players sidelined.
Despite the missing pieces, Colorado still possesses a dangerous offensive duo in Nathan MacKinnon (league-leading 127 points) and Mikko Rantanen (100 points).
Historically, the Avalanche have dominated the Blue Jackets. Last season, they swept the season series, including a decisive 6-1 victory. The clash between veteran coach Jared Bednar (Avalanche) and rookie coach Brad Larsen (Blue Jackets) also adds excitement.
Our Picks: Colorado Avalanche Poised to Roll
The Colorado Avalanche are the clear favorites tonight, with most sportsbooks offering a spread of around 7.5 points in their favor. Here’s a look at how each team has performed against the spread (ATS) this season:
Colorado Avalanche ATS: They’ve been rolling all season, boasting a strong ATS record of 42-23-7. On the road, they’ve been particularly dominant at 22-14-6 ATS.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Their overall ATS record isn’t great (28-39-5), but there’s a positive sign. They’ve found success at home recently, going 6-4-3 ATS in their last 13 home games. Even more impressive, they’re 4-1-1 ATS against Central Division opponents on home ice.
Buckle up for puck drop!
Pick 1: Colorado Avalanche (-7.5 Spread)
The Colorado Avalanche are red hot coming into this game, having taken 9 out of their last 10 matchups. Their offensive attack features Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. On the other side of the ice, the Blue Jackets have shown some promise at home recently, boasting a 4-1-1 record. However, their overall talent pool simply doesn’t match up to Colorado’s firepower. While a complete blowout might not be in the cards, the Avalanche’s offensive juggernaut suggests a comfortable victory for the visitors.
Pick 2: Over 6.5 Total Goals
Both the Avalanche and Blue Jackets have a knack for finding the net. Colorado’s a scoring machine, averaging nearly 4 goals a game, and Columbus isn’t far behind at over 3. The Blue Jackets will likely need some offensive firepower to keep up, and the Avalanche’s offensive firepower is undeniable. Throw in the fact that Columbus’ recent home games have been averaging over 6 goals a pop, and this one has all the makings of a high-scoring affair.
