History does repeat itself, as the Colorado Avalanche demonstrated in their 5-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. Back on Saturday, Oct. 30, the Avalanche beat the Blue Jackets by the same score, 5-1. And to add to that, the Avalanche scored the same number of goals in each period in each game. Unfortunately, Columbus failed to match the symmetry when it scored its only goal in the first period.
About four minutes into the first period, Blue Jackets center Antoine Vermette got off a wristshot from nine feet out to put his team up by a goal. However, two minutes later right winger David Jones tied the game at one with his fifth goal of the season.
Recently recalled center Greg Mauldin scored his first NHL goal at 10:57 in the second period (with an assist going to David Jones) to put the Avalanche up for good. Philippe Dupuis and (2) and Paul Stastny (6) each added a goal toward the end of the period.
David Jones took the No. 1 star of the game with two goals (he added the second one in the third period) and an assist. The rookie Greg Mauldin came in behind him and Paul Stastny was the third star.
Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj stopped 28 of 29 shots against him, while Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason made only 24 saves on 29 shots.
The Avalanche are 8-6-1 with the win and play the Red Wings in Detroit on Saturday night before returning home for a three-game stand.