It’s a quick trip to middle America for the Colorado Avalanche for a showdown with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are in search of their first victory on home ice during this 2025-26 campaign. The Avalanche,
on the other hand, have gotten off to a blazing start this season, collecting at least a point in all four regular-season contests so far. Will the Avalanche continue that hot start, or will it be the Blue Jackets’ turn to take the victory lane?
Colorado Avalanche: 3-0-1
The Opponent: Columbus Blue Jackets 1-2-0
Time: 5:00 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, Altitude+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
I know victory lane is more of a racing term. That said, the Colorado Avalanche have been watching more like an F1 race as of late, so I think the terminology can be interchangeable. Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas sit tied for third in the player points race, each with 8 points in the first four contests. It’s not just the points, either; it’s how they are putting up points. Watching these two work together, along with Artturi Lehkonen, is reminiscent of Ferrari executing a team order—poetry in motion.
Avs fans got a bit of a scare with Gabe Landeskog missing practice yesterday, but we were warned of him taking days off for maintenance, and it appears that’s precisely what we saw yesterday. Jared Bednar says that Cap is good to go. Can’t blame Avalanche fans for overreacting to that one. They have been through a lot.
It feels like Zakhar Bardakov has to get a start in tonight’s game, and with Brock Nelson a likely game-time decision, that feels entirely likely. Nelson was cut against the Sabres on Monday afternoon on his hand or wrist area, but it was described as “just a flesh wound” by Jared Bednar on Altitude Sports Radio Tuesday morning. If Nelson can’t go, I’d expect Ross Colton to elevate.
Scott Wedgewood is the confirmed starter for tonight’s contest, and to be honest, Scott has looked more like a bona fide starter than a backup so far this year. That’s great news for fans and MacKenzie Blackwood, who shouldn’t feel rushed to get back after being loaned to the Colorado Eagles for a conditioning stint.
Projected Lineup:
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabe Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton — Jack Drury — Viktor Olofsson
Joel Kiviranta — Parker Kelly — Gavin Brindley
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Ilya Solovyov — Sam Malinski
Scott Wedgewood
Trent Miner
Columbus Blue Jackets
Alright, the Blue Jackets are a good team and have a great defender of their own who also wears the number eight coincidentally. Zach Werensky, in fact, got the second most votes for Norris last season, falling short of Cale Makar by 166 first-place votes. Werensky has three points in as many games, so the Avalanche would do well to keep an eye on the young man.
Kirill Marchenko had himself a wicked hatty against the Minnesota Wild last weekend, and it looks like he hasn’t skipped a beat since putting up career-high numbers last season.
I think the Columbus team is a playoff team and thus provides a good test for an Avalanche team that has already garnered the praise of pundits around the league. You might call this a ’trap game,’ but in all honesty, I think Columbus is a good team.
It will be Merzlikins in the net for the Blue Jackets, who is 1-0 on the season, giving up four goals to the Wild, but securing a win while earning a .923 SV%.
Projected Lineup:
Kent Johnson — Sean Monahan — Kirill Marchenko
Dmitri Voronkov — Adam Fantill — Cole Sillinge
Boone Jenner — Charlie Coyle — Mathieu Olivier
Yegor Chinakhov — Isac Lundestrom — Zach Aston-Reese
Zach Werenski — Dante Fabbr
Ivan Provorov — Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen — Denton Mateychu
Elvis Merzlikins
Jet Greaves
Note: Erik Gudbranson and Miles Wood are listed as “day-to-day.”
Let’s drop the puck in Ohio!
