Trent Miner made 29 saves to record a shutout in his first career victory, Brent Burns had a season-high two goals and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 in Denver on Saturday.
Ilya Solovov scored his first NHL goal, Victor Olofsson had a goal and an assist, and Parker Kelly and Gavin Brindley contributed two assists each for Colorado, which has won 17 straight at home to improve to 19-0-2 on its ice.
The Avalanche have outscored opponents 12-2 in the first two games of their season-long seven-game homestand.
Miner, recalled from the AHL with Mackenzie Blackwood out with a lower-body injury, stopped nine shots in the third period to preserve the fifth shutout of the season for Colorado. It was Miner’s third NHL game of the season after playing twice in October, losing both in overtime, and the fifth of his career.
Elvis Merzlikins turned away 27 shots for Columbus, which continues to struggle. The Blue Jackets have dropped four in a row during a 1-4-1 stretch and have given up 19 goals during the current losing streak.
Burns gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead when Ross Colton’s rebound came to the high slot, and Burns beat Merzlikins through a screen at 13:58 of the first. Colorado went ahead 2-0 on Olofsson’s goal 3:30 later.
It was his first goal in 12 games. All eight of his tallies this season have come at home.
Solovyov gave the Avalanche a three-goal lead when he took a cross-zone pass from Kelly and sent a snap shot inside the far post at 10:30 of the second period. Solovyov has a three-game point streak since being recalled from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL.
Burns sealed it with his second of the day and third in the last two games. Merzlikins made the save on Burns’ slapshot from the point but the rebound caromed off of Brendan Gaunce and bounced in at 8:33.
The Avalanche’s top-ranked penalty kill unit was 2-for-2 in the win.
–Field Level Media
