By Joe Coopersmith

GAME AT A GLANCE

THREE STARS 1^st – D. Tarasov, CBJ (stopped 45-of-46 shots faced, W); 2^nd – A. Nylander, CBJ (2-0-2, GWG); 3^rd – E. Gudbranson, CBJ (0-2-2)

GOAL SCORERS
Columbus: K. Marchenko (20), A. Nylander (9), A. Nylander (10), EN – C. Sillinger (13)

Colorado: C. Wagner (1)

GOALTENDERS
Columbus: D. Tarasov (45 saves, W)
Colorado: J. Annunen (21 saves, L)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Columbus PP:  0-for-2, 7 shots
Colorado PP:  0-for-4, 10 shots

BLUE JACKETS TEAM NOTES

• The Blue Jackets won a second-straight game and improved to 6-8-2 in the last 16 games and 9-12-2 in the past 23 contests since Feb. 17 following tonight’s victory over the Avalanche.
• CBJ have recorded points in 10 of the last 14 home games of the series vs. Colorado (7-4-3) and are 5-1-1 in the last seven contests at Nationwide Arena.
• The teams split the season series with each team winning on home ice.  It’s the first time each team won a game in the season series since 2017-18.
• The winning team in the series has scored four-plus goals in six-straight meetings as well as 10 of the last 11 games since Mar. 8, 2018.
• The Blue Jackets killed off all four Avalanche power play chances tonight and have now killed off 26-of-30 Colorado power play chances over the past nine games (86.7 pct.).
• CBJ blueliners posted 0-4-4 tonight and have now recorded 5-13-18 in the last seven contests and 31-136-167 in 75 games this season.
• With LW Dmitri Voronkov’s assist tonight, CBJ rookies have now combined for 30-38-68 in 75 contests in 2023-24.
• CBJ have scored the first goal of the game in 33 of the past 56 games, including seven-straight, nine of the last 10 and 15 of the last 21.
• CBJ played their final of five Monday games this season, finishing with points in all five games (4-0-1).

BLUE JACKETS PLAYER NOTES_­

• RW Alex Nylander notched his fifth career multi-goal effort and third of the campaign with two goals and has recorded 10-3-13 in his first 17 games with the club.
• RW Kirill Marchenko notched his seventh multi-point game of the season with 1-1-2, giving him goals in two consecutive contests (1-2-3). With 20-17-37 in 71 appearances in 2023-24, he is the second Blue Jacket (Pierre-Luc Dubois) to record back-to-back 20-goal seasons to begin his NHL career.
• D Erik Gudbranson tallied his fourth multi-assist and multi-point game of the season with two assists and has now collected 5-17-22 in 71 games this season.
• LW Johnny Gaudreau recorded an assist in his second-straight game, giving him 0-6-6 in the last seven outings (overall, 11-45-56 in 75 GP). He now has 8-12-20 in 25 career games vs. Colorado, including assists in two consecutive contests (0-2-2) and 3-9-12 in his past 13 appearances against the club.
• C Cole Sillinger scored a goal to extend his points streak to three games (2-2-4; overall, 13-16-29 in 70 GP).
• D Ivan Provorov registered an assist, giving him 0-2-2 in the last three contests (overall, 5-26-31 in 75 GP).
• C Alexandre Texier tallied an assist and now has 0-2-2 in the last three outings (overall, 11-16-27 in 71 GP).
• LW Dmitri Voronkov recorded an assist to give him 17-15-32 in 69 contests in 2023-24.
• D Jake Bean collected an assist, giving him 4-9-13 in 71 appearances.
• G Daniil Tarasov stopped 45-of-46 shots faced tonight and has complied a .939 SV% (277-of-295) in eight games (seven starts) since Mar. 7. He has allowed three goals or less in eight of his last 10 starts.

BLUE JACKETS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Pascal Vincent | D Erik Gudbranson | F Alex Nylander | G Daniil Tarasov

AVALANCHE POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Jared Bednar | G Justus Annunen | F Mikko Rantanen

BLUE JACKETS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Apr. 2                      No Practice

Wednesday, Apr. 3               11am ET Practice – Nationwide Arena

Thursday, Apr. 4                     7pm ET vs. New York Islanders – Nationwide Arena

COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS