Colorado fell behind 2–0 in Chicago on Monday, then scored twice in 26 seconds to tie it. The Avalanche went on to score five for the third straight game. Now they visit a Columbus team that has scored twice or fewer in four of its last five. For the Blue Jackets, keeping the game close means giving Colorado fewer chances to turn a tight stretch into a scoring burst.
Why Colorado is favored on the road
DraftKings had the Avalanche at −130 in its 8:57 a.m. ET snapshot. Our grades give Colorado the stronger attack, and our shot projections put it at about 33 shots to Columbus’s 28. The Chicago game showed how Colorado can turn a shot into a second chance. Nazem Kadri got Colorado on the board by poking in a loose puck and later tipped a Cale Makar shot for the go-ahead goal on the power play, the AP reported. Columbus has to account for the first shot and the stick that might get to it next.
The Blue Jackets have a route to keeping this close. Jet Greaves held Dallas to two goals on 16 shots Saturday before the Stars added an empty-netter in a 3–1 win. Dallas opened the scoring on a power play after a delay-of-game penalty, according to the AP. Keeping Colorado at even strength would give Columbus more room for a game like that one, especially if it can limit follow-up chances around Greaves.
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Who does the scoring at 6.5?
Colorado’s last three games all finished 5–2, enough to clear DraftKings’ 6.5 total. The fifth goal in Chicago came into an empty net, and Columbus has played three games with five or fewer combined goals in its last five. That makes the Jackets’ contribution especially important. If they’re around their recent scoring level, Colorado may need another big night on its own.
There’s room for Columbus to contribute. Colorado’s confirmed starter, Scott Wedgewood, gave up six on 35 shots against Nashville, although he also stopped 37 of 40 against New Jersey in his four starts this season. Greaves was unconfirmed for Tuesday. He stopped all 31 shots against the Rangers in one of his last five appearances. Those results show how much the total could swing if one goalie turns a busy night into a low score.
Watch whether Columbus can keep Colorado’s first chances from turning into tips and loose pucks around the crease. If Greaves starts and can handle the initial shots without much traffic, the Jackets have a chance to keep the moneyline favorite within reach. If Colorado gets repeated looks from close range, Columbus will need more scoring than it has found in most of its recent games.
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