The Columbus Blue Jackets started the season with a strong offensive performance in a 6-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres last month.
The goals were harder to come by in the next 11 games, and the Blue Jackets reside near the bottom of the NHL in scoring heading into Tuesday night’s contest against the visiting Colorado Avalanche.
Columbus has scored more than three goals only once since the win over the Sabres on Oct. 1, and leading scorer Kent Johnson has just 12 points.
The team’s veterans are struggling to get going, including former Colorado player Valeri Nichushkin, who has just one goal and five assists through 12 games. Sean Monahan has just three assists since the opener, and Mathieu Olivier has one assist in the last nine games.
“The young guys are not the problem right now,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell told The Athletic. “They’re all doing their jobs for us.”
Nichushkin, who was a key contributor in the Avalanche’s run to the Stanley Cup title in 2022, had a goal taken away in a 3-1 loss at Dallas on Saturday night. It would have been his first goal in eight games.
“You feel terrible for Val,” Columbus coach Rick Bowness said. “He finally scores and it’s called back, but that’s how things are going right now. If we keep up the effort that we’re showing right now, good things are going to happen for the hockey club and we’ll go on a run.”
It could start against Colorado, which has struggled on the road lately with three straight losses before Monday night’s 5-2 win at Chicago. The Avalanche haven’t had trouble scoring — although their power play has been cold since opening the season strong — but their goals-against average (3.00) is higher than last season, when they led the NHL at 2.40.
Colorado was in danger of dropping its fourth in a row on the road when the Blackhawks jumped to a 2-0 lead. The Avalanche tied it before the end of the first period and took control en route to winning their third straight game overall.
Mackenzie Blackwood started in net Monday night, so Scott Wedgewood likely will start against Columbus.
Colorado still is without Josh Manson, who is expected to miss eight weeks after suffering an ankle injury against New Jersey on Wednesday night. The Avalanche are deep enough at the blueline to compensate for his absence, although Manson is the most physical defenseman on the team.
Colorado will lean on its top pairing of Cale Makar and Devon Toews, but others will have a chance to step up more, including Sam Malinski. The 28-year-old Minnesota native had a breakout season last year with career highs in goals (eight), assists (32) and points (40).
He started slowly this season, and Avalanche coach Jared Bednar sat him for one game. Malinski has started to round into form.
“I just know what I’m capable of, and (Bednar) knows too because he’s seen it,” Malinski said. “So that’s kind of what the new standard and expectation is for me every game.”