The Colorado Avalanche (3-0-1) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2) at Nationwide Arena on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Avalanche knocked off the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 in their last outing, while the Blue Jackets are coming off a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

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To prepare for this matchup, here is who we project to take home the victory in Thursday's hockey game.

Avalanche vs. Blue Jackets Predictions for Thursday

Our computer projections model for this contest predicts a final tally of Avalanche 4, Blue Jackets 3.

Moneyline Pick: Avalanche (-164)
Total Pick: Under 6.5 (computer predicts 5.8 goals on average)
Spread Pick: Blue Jackets (+1.5)

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Avalanche Splits and Trends

The Avalanche were 49-29-4 overall and 9-6-15 in overtime games last season.
Colorado was 13-7-3 (29 points) in its 23 games decided by one goal.
In the 15 games last season the Avalanche recorded only one goal, they went 1-11-3 (five points).
Colorado finished 5-9-2 in the 16 games last season when it scored exactly two goals (registering 12 points).
The Avalanche were 46-8-1 when they scored at least three goals (to record 93 points).
In the 34 games when Colorado scored a lone power-play goal, it went 24-8-2 to register 50 points.
When it outshot its opponent, Colorado was 36-20-3 (75 points).
The Avalanche's opponent had more shots in 23 games last season. The Avalanche finished 13-9-1 in those contests (27 points).

Blue Jackets Splits and Trends

The Blue Jackets had a 10-9-19 record in overtime games last season, and a 40-33-9 overall record.
In the 22 games Columbus played that were decided by one goal, it picked up 22 points.
Last season the Blue Jackets scored just one goal in seven games, and they picked up two points (0-5-2).
Columbus accumulated nine points (4-10-1) when scoring a pair of goals last season.
The Blue Jackets scored three or more goals 51 times, accumulating 76 points (36-11-4).
Columbus scored a single power-play goal in 28 games last season and recorded 38 points.
When it outshot its opponent last season, Columbus posted a record of 18-12-4 (40 points).
The Blue Jackets were outshot by their opponents 41 times last season, and took 43 points from those games.

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Team Stats Comparison (2024-25)