The Columbus Blue Jackets handled the little things and shook up the top of the Western Conference playoff seating race, with a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Alex Nylander led the way to even the season series with the upper echelon of the west.

Period I

18 shots on goal with about 30 seconds of 4 v 4 late in the first after minor penalties were assessed to Samuel Girard and Zach Werenski. Tarasov turned away all 11 shots.

Period II

An early Chris Wagner minor penalty was the final Avalanche minor penalty for the evening.

Kirill Marchenko opened the scoring of the game just before the halfway mark of the game. Marchy become only the second player on the team to score 20 goals this season joining the sickly Boone Jenner. His opening cannon launcher was assisted by the Flames’ legends Erik Gudbranson and Johnny Gaudreau.

Alex Nylander extended the lead with his first of the evening and ninth of his stint with the Blue Jackets. Russians Dmitry Voronkov and Ivan Provorov had the helpers.

Nylander’s second of the contest and 10th of the regular season makes himself the 10th Jackets to score that many on the year. His other goal was assisted by Jake Bean and Gudbranson.

Period III

Chris Wagner potted his first of the year with the assists going to Sean Walker and Artturi Lehkonen.

Cole Sillinger got the empty net goal with the final goal of the game for his 13th of the year with the assists to Alexandre Texier and Marchenko.

Players to Watch

Cale Makar — pointless with 6 shots in 26 minutes. -2

Justin Danforth — kept the breaks on for him. Paz kept him to under 10 minutes with a block.

Goaltenders

Justin Annunen — 21 saves on 24 shots faced for a 0.875 save percentage.

Daniil Tarasov — 45 saves on 46 shots faced for a 0.978 save percentage

CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Alex Nylander — 2 goals (10)

2. Daniil Tarasov — 45 saves, W

3. Kirill Marchenko — goal (20)

What’s Next?

Isles at home for part three of four.

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