Blue Jackets Struggle to Find Offense Ahead of Avalanche
Columbus has scored more than three goals only once since October 1 and rank near the bottom of the NHL in scoring.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hockey
The Columbus Blue Jackets are struggling offensively and rank near the bottom of the NHL in scoring as they prepare to host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night. Columbus has scored more than three goals only once since opening the season with a 6-3 win over Buffalo on October 1.
Why it matters
The offensive slump puts pressure on a Columbus lineup that must generate scoring against a Colorado team that is still adjusting to a higher goals-against average. For Columbus fans, the game offers a direct look at whether the team can recover its production before the season gets away from it.
Through 12 games, Valeri Nichushkin has one goal and five assists while Kent Johnson leads the Columbus scorers with 12 points. Colorado's goals-against average stands at 3.00, up from the 2.40 league-leading mark it posted last season, and it is unclear how long that gap will persist.
The players
Valeri Nichushkin
Nichushkin is a Columbus forward whose offensive output has been limited to one goal and five assists this season.
Kent Johnson
Johnson is a Columbus forward who leads the team with 12 points this season.
Josh Manson
Manson is a Columbus defenseman who suffered an ankle injury and is expected to miss eight weeks.
The details
Columbus has been held to three goals or fewer in nearly every game since its season-opening win, with Sean Monahan contributing three assists and Mathieu Olivier one assist over the last nine games. Colorado arrives after a 5-2 road win at Chicago on Monday that followed three straight losing road games, with Mackenzie Blackwood starting in net.
Timeline
October 1: Columbus beats Buffalo 6-3 to open the season.
Saturday, November 1: Nichushkin's goal is disallowed in a 3-1 loss at Dallas.
Monday, November 2: Colorado beats Chicago 5-2.
Tuesday, November 3: Columbus hosts Colorado.
Season Trajectory
Colorado's defense has slipped from the 2.40 goals-against average that led the league last season to 3.00 this year, a shift that affects the standings picture across the Western Conference. Columbus's scoring problems come at a time when several teams are competing for the same playoff positions.
Fantasy managers relying on Valeri Nichushkin or Kent Johnson should weigh the team's recent scoring drought when setting lineups for Tuesday. Manson's expected eight-week absence will also shift ice time on the Columbus blue line.
The takeaway
Scoring droughts in the NHL often reflect a few lineup pieces failing to convert chances rather than a systemic collapse, so watch whether Columbus's top forwards begin producing again before reading too much into the slow start.
What happens next
The Blue Jackets host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Hockey coverage of Columbus.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deadspin.
