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Avalanche eye stronger goalie play as Blue Jackets aim to rebound
The Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets are both navigating early-season challenges in the NHL. As the Avalanche aim to address goaltending concerns ahead of their home opener, the Blue Jackets are dealing with injuries and adversity, but both teams are focused on improvement and resilience as they move forward.
Colorado Avalanche: Goaltending in Focus
After a rough season opener where the Colorado Avalanche lost 8-4 to the Vegas Golden Knights, goaltending has quickly become a concern for the team. Both of their goalies—Alexandar Georgiev and backup Justus Annunen—struggled in the loss, prompting the team to take swift action.
In response, the Avalanche claimed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. While Kahkonen will not be available immediately due to immigration paperwork, head coach Jared Bednar made it clear that his presence should push the current goaltenders to elevate their play.
“It’s a player with experience. He’s played well in places before, and he’s free and we’ve got room,” Bednar said. “We’ve seen better from our goalies than we did recently, and if they can elevate their game, great. And if Kahkonen can come in and play well, great. It’s about winning hockey games.”
The Avalanche are not in panic mode after one poor performance, but their quick decision to bring in another goalie shows a commitment to addressing potential weaknesses before they escalate.
Key Injuries Adding Pressure
The Avalanche also face significant lineup challenges, with three key players unavailable. Valeri Nichushkin is serving a suspension, Gabriel Landeskog is out with a knee injury, and Artturi Lehkonen is recovering from shoulder surgery. To make matters worse, forward Jonathan Drouin sustained an upper-body injury in the loss to Vegas and will miss a few games.
Bednar hasn’t named Drouin’s replacement on the top line, but forward Nikolai Kovalenko skated with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen during Friday’s practice. Kovalenko’s inclusion alongside the team’s two top offensive threats is a potential temporary fix as the Avalanche work through their injury issues.
Despite these setbacks, the Avalanche remain confident in their depth and are looking to get back on track in their home opener against Columbus.
NHL GAME PREDICTIONS & BETTING TIPSColumbus Blue Jackets: Adversity and Resilience
The Columbus Blue Jackets are also dealing with significant adversity early in the season. Captain Boone Jenner is out for most of the year following shoulder surgery, and forward Dmitri Voronkov is recovering from an upper-body injury. Additionally, the team is still coping with the emotional toll of Johnny Gaudreau’s passing, a tragedy that occurred just before the season began.
Despite these challenges, the Blue Jackets showed promise in their season opener against the Minnesota Wild, losing a close 3-2 contest. Forward Zach Werenski, who scored for Columbus, remained optimistic about the team’s performance.
“If we play like that, we’re going to win a lot of games,” Werenski said. “That’s what winning hockey looks like, and that’s fun hockey. We’re going to build on it, and it’s a good recipe for success.”
Emotional Start for Columbus
Thursday’s game against Minnesota marked the first regular-season contest for the Blue Jackets since the passing of Gaudreau on August 29, and it was also the debut for head coach Dean Evason. Evason, who previously coached the Wild for parts of five seasons, faced an emotional homecoming in his first game behind the bench for Columbus.
Though the Blue Jackets left Minnesota with a loss, the team took away positive signs of progress. They’ll need to continue playing with the same intensity as they work through injuries and the emotional challenges of the season.
Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Both Teams
Both the Avalanche and Blue Jackets are focusing on growth as they head into their Saturday night clash in Denver. Colorado’s immediate concern is improving their goaltending performance, but their proactive approach—claiming Kahkonen and pushing current netminders to perform better—shows their commitment to avoiding further struggles in the crease.
The Avalanche will also be watching how their top players, such as MacKinnon and Rantanen, perform under the pressure of missing key pieces. Kovalenko’s potential role on the top line offers an opportunity to step up in a critical moment.
For Columbus, their resilience will be tested as they navigate a season full of emotional and physical challenges. Injuries to key players like Jenner and Voronkov are significant, but if the Blue Jackets continue to play with the same intensity seen in their opener, they have a solid foundation for success.
Both teams are dealing with adversity, but both are poised to rebound and improve in the coming weeks. For the Avalanche, the focus remains on goaltending and roster depth, while the Blue Jackets will look to channel their emotional fortitude into on-ice performance.
Conclusion
The Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets are both seeking early improvements in this young NHL season. For the Avalanche, addressing goaltending concerns and managing injuries are key priorities, while Columbus is working through the emotional toll of a tragic loss and the absence of key players. Both teams are taking positive steps to adapt and overcome, setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive matchup in Denver.
