With the Detroit Red Wings also on the docket this weekend, Friday night's game vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets— by far the worst team in the NHL— was the classic "trap game" for the Colorado Avalanche. Well, consider the bait not taken, as the Avs coasted to an easy 5-0 victory in the first game of their back-to-back.
The Avs were led offensively by David Jones, who scored two goals and added an assist on the night. Jones' first goal was the game's first, and it came unassisted with less than thirty seconds to go in the period. Gabriel Landeskog put Colorado up 2-0 in the second on his 16th goal of the season, which came on assists from Steve Downie and Ryan O'Reilly. Jones then scored his second of the game and 14th of the season early in the third to put Colorado up by three, and that goal was followed by goals from Steve Downie and Matt Hunwick.
The five goals on the night was more than enough thanks to goalie Semyon Varlamov, who turned away all of Columbus' 28 shots. It was Varlamov's third shutout of the season, as he continues to play well in the stead of Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blue Jackets blog The Cannon. And for more from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NHL news hub.
With the Detroit Red Wings also on the docket this weekend, Friday night's game vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets— by far the worst team in the NHL— was the classic "trap game" for the Colorado Avalanche. Well, consider the bait not taken, as the Avs coasted to an easy 5-0 victory in the first game of their back-to-back.
The Avs were led offensively by David Jones, who scored two goals and added an assist on the night. Jones' first goal was the game's first, and it came unassisted with less than thirty seconds to go in the period. Gabriel Landeskog put Colorado up 2-0 in the second on his 16th goal of the season, which came on assists from Steve Downie and Ryan O'Reilly. Jones then scored his second of the game and 14th of the season early in the third to put Colorado up by three, and that goal was followed by goals from Steve Downie and Matt Hunwick.
The five goals on the night was more than enough thanks to goalie Semyon Varlamov, who turned away all of Columbus' 28 shots. It was Varlamov's third shutout of the season, as he continues to play well in the stead of Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Blue Jackets blog The Cannon. And for more from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NHL news hub.