The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Saturday, extending their home winning streak to 17 games. Trent Miner earned his first NHL win and shutout with 29 saves, while Brent Burns scored twice. Ilya Solovyov netted his first career NHL goal in the victory.
At Ball Arena in Denver, the Avalanche improved to 19-0-2 at home and 33-4-7 overall, continuing a dominant stretch that includes 12 wins in their last 14 games. The Blue Jackets, now 18-19-7, have lost four straight and went 0-3 on their four-game road trip. Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves in defeat.
The scoring began late in the first period when Brent Burns snapped a rebound past Merzlikins at 13:58, assisted by Ross Colton and Gavin Brindley, for a 1-0 lead. Victor Olofsson extended the advantage to 2-0 at 17:28 with a backhand shot off a pass from Parker Kelly via Jack Drury, ending his 12-game pointless streak and adding an assist later.
In the second period, Ilya Solovyov, a 25-year-old defenseman claimed off waivers from Calgary in October, rifled a wrist shot from the left dot at 10:30 for his first NHL goal and third point in three games, assisted by Kelly. The Avalanche killed off penalties to Nathan MacKinnon and Olofsson during the frame.
Burns struck again in the third at 8:33, his point shot deflecting off Merzlikins and defenseman Brendan Gaunce for the 4-0 final. The 40-year-old Burns became the fourth defenseman over 40 to record a multi-goal game, joining Tim Horton, Zdeno Chara, and Nicklas Lidstrom. Brindley and Kelly each tallied two assists; Brindley was acquired from Columbus in a June trade involving Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood.
Miner, a recent call-up from the AHL's Colorado Eagles, started to rest Scott Wedgewood with Mackenzie Blackwood sidelined by injury. Despite stars like MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas being held pointless, the Avalanche's depth shone through in the shutout.
