Avalanche Roll Into Columbus Looking to Feast on Struggling Jackets

The Avalanche make the trip to Nationwide Arena on Tuesday night, and if you're Columbus, this is not the visitor you want to see right now. Colorado comes in riding high with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations, while the Blue Jackets continue their slow-motion rebuild that feels like it's been going on since the Obama administration.

Let's be real: this is a mismatch on paper. The Avs bring elite firepower, championship pedigree, and a defensive structure that's tightened up considerably from years past. Columbus? They're scrappy, they'll work hard, and occasionally they'll catch a team napping. But against a focused Colorado squad, "occasionally" doesn't cut it.

The Jackets' best hope is catching Alexandar Georgiev on an off night or somehow turning this into a chaotic track meet where anything can happen. Problem is, Colorado doesn't need chaos anymore—they can win pretty or ugly. Their depth is legit, their special teams are dangerous, and they've got the kind of road warrior mentality that feasts on undermanned opponents.

Columbus will battle, because that's what they do. But battling and winning are two different things. The Avs should control this one from the opening faceoff and make it a long night for the home crowd. Expect Colorado to roll and cover whatever spread the books hang on them.