Avalanche Get Buried in Columbus, Blue Jackets Roll 7-2

Well, that was ugly. The Avalanche limped into Nationwide Arena and got absolutely steamrolled by the Blue Jackets, dropping a 7-2 stinker that wasn't even as close as the final score suggests. Columbus came out hungry and never let up, turning what should've been a competitive matchup into a one-sided beatdown.

Colorado looked disjointed from the opening faceoff, and Columbus made them pay for every mistake. The Blue Jackets lit the lamp seven times, turning the Avs' defense into Swiss cheese and exposing some serious cracks in a team that's supposed to be a contender. Meanwhile, Colorado managed just two goals in response—hardly the offensive firepower we've come to expect from this squad.

Give credit where it's due: Columbus executed their game plan to perfection, controlling the pace and capitalizing on their chances. For the Avalanche, this is the kind of loss that should spark some serious soul-searching in the locker room. You can't show up flat on the road and expect to survive in this league.

DarkHorse didn't touch this one, and honestly? Probably for the best. Sometimes the hockey gods serve up chaos, and tonight they were wearing Blue Jackets sweaters. Colorado needs to flush this disaster fast and regroup.