The Avs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 5-3, retaking first place in the northwest division.

The Avs came out really strong tonight, getting three goals within the first ten minutes and chasing starting goaltender Steve Mason.

The avs looked like a team possessed in the early going, controlling the flow of the play for much of the first period.

However, after that, they seemed to relax and Columbus came back, notching two powerplay goals from R.J. Umberger and Jason Chimera and so the teams went into the third period up 4-2.

The Avs revved it back up and eventually added a Milan Hejduk insurance goal to seal the game.

Wojtek Wolski was really a difference maker tonight. For the past two weeks he’s shown none of his Tin Man tendencies. He was aggressive on the puck, getting good shots and making plays. He had a hand on the first four goals that were scored tonight and was the main source for the Avs’ offensive game.

On the other side, Matt Duchene has to find his game again. When he went on that trip through Florida and got six goals in a week, people started expecting him to come on. He’s done quite the opposite lately. He had two points tonight but he hasn’t scored a goal since Dec. 7 in St. Louis. If he can’t start scoring, the Avs suddenly become one-dimensional. Point blank they need him to score.

Speaking of Duchene, my brother theorized that Sacco should move Duchene to the wing of the second line and let TJ Galiardi center the second line. What say you Avs nation, should the Avs do this? Is it a good move for either party?

Kudos to Mathieu Garon who kept the Blue Jackets in the game and made some really solid saves after Mason w as pulled.

Up next is another battle with Minnesota in Minnesota.

Three Stars

1. Wojtek Wolski- 3 point night tonight
2. Mathieu Garon- Gave the Blue Jackets a chance to win
3. Kyle Quincey- Shut down Rick Nash perfectly

Facepalm of the game

Brandon Yip’s hooking call in the second that led to the Jackets second powerplay goal of the night was just an awful play. He had time, he just needed to move his feet. Instead he goes to the box and it becomes a game again.

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