COLUMBUS AT COLORADO, 7 p.m. Thursday, ALT, 950 AM
Spotlight on: Seth Jones. The Blue Jackets’ defenseman leads the team in average ice time (23:26) and is tied for third in scoring (24 points). Jones, who was born in Texas but mostly raised in Colorado, has eight points (three goals) in his last eight games and his seven goals are just five shy of his career high. Jones played a season-high 30:08 on Dec. 27 against Pittsburgh.
NOTEBOOK
Blue Jackets — Their 23 wins and 49 points are the second most through the first half of a season in club history, only trailing last season’s start of 29 wins and 62 points. They are tied for the most wins in the NHL. … Columbus is on a four-game points streak against Colorado (3-0-1) and is 8-3-2 against the Avalanche since March 1, 2012. The Jackets have won three straight at Colorado and are 6-2-1 in the last nine road games in Denver. … Forward Oliver Bjorkstrand has 12 points (three goals) in the past 14 games. He had both goals in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory at Dallas. … Columbus will not have a morning skate at the Pepsi Center.
Avalanche — Goalie Semyon Varlamov sustained a lower-body muscular injury Tuesday and likely will miss two games before the team’s week-long break begins Sunday. After Thursday’s game, Colorado concludes its six-game homestand Saturday against Minnesota. Jonathan Bernier will probably start both games, with minor-league call-up Andrew Hammond serving as backup. Varlamov is listed as “day-to-day” along with forwards J.T. Compher and Sven Andrighetto. “It’s muscular and he’s feeling good this morning,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Varlamov on Wednesday. “He’s in the same boat as Compher and Andrighetto. They’re all day-to-day and I would say doubtful to return before the break (Jan. 7-12). It’s starting to look like the bye week is probably coming at a good time for us. We’ve been relatively healthy and now we have a couple injuries that are starting to pile up here. We’ve got two more games before the break.” … The Avs will have an optional morning skate.
