10 Observations: You Can’t Challenge That Play

Even though the Blue Jackets scored first, it never truly felt like the Avalanche were in trouble. That’s been the case for all four of the wins this season.

Colorado was successful on the road again and returned home with a sparkling 4-0-1 record.

The second line found its offensive touch, the goalie is still on fire, and everyone in the lineup is seemingly bought in.

This isn’t the 2024-25 October Avs in any way.

Here’s what I saw in Thursday’s 4-1 victory, which includes the confusion around the non-challenge from the Jackets for a goal that was waved off.

READ MORE: The Aftermath: Road Wins Keep Coming — Avalanche Defeat Columbus

10 Observations

1. You can’t challenge a goal that was called back because it hit a player’s hand before deflecting into the goal. The Blue Jackets learned that in real time. Apparently, the officials did too.

Dmitri Voronkov attempted to wack a puck out of the air with his hand. It ended up hitting his glove slightly, then deflecting off of his chest and past Scott Wedgewood. The official behind the net quickly waved it off for a hand pass.

But the Jackets bench argued the call, and the officials announced that Columbus was challenging the play. After a few more moments, the puck was dropped in the neutral zone. No goal, no penalty for an unsuccessful challenge.

It sure seemed like the officials had no idea that the play wasn’t challengeable until after making that announcement.

2. The funny part is, the Jackets were way offside on the zone entry. That goal would’ve been challenged by the Avs and called back regardless.

3. The Jackets fans probably didn’t love seeing another goal called off in the third for a hand pass. But that one was the obvious right call.

4. Another win, and another game with just one goal against for goalie Scott Wedgewood. Colorado’s four wins this season are 4-1, 2-1, 3-1, and 4-1.

Basically, the four teams they’ve defeated (Los Angeles, Utah, Buffalo, and Columbus) have as many goals as the Dallas Stars scored on Wedgewood in Colorado’s only loss.

5. The Avs had the better looks in the first period, but they weren’t completely dominating like we’ve seen so many times before.

In the second, Columbus took advantage of a turnover and scored and had some momentum after that. But as soon as Makar scored to tie the game, it was all Colorado for pretty much the rest of the night. And they dominated large portions of the later stages of the second.

6. Right before Nelson scored to make it 2-1, Josh Manson had the puck at the point and Nichushkin was wide open for a one timer in the right circle. Manson looked off the pass and threw the puck on goal, and you can see Nichushkin slamming his stick on the ice out of frustration for not getting a pass

He quickly got set up again when Burns had the puck. But Burns chose to do the same thing as Manson, and it led to a goal. Nichushkin didn’t mind it that time. But I love the fire from Val.

7. That play was vintage Burns. He’s got a knack for getting pucks through and towards the goal. Even though he’s built like a guy that should have a cannon of a slapper, that’s not his go-to.

Perfect shot placement, perfect redirect from the No. 2 center to put the Avs ahead.

8. Victor Olofsson has been setting up sweet goals all year. He’s got three assists on goals that were all created by him. That’s quite the feat for a player the Avs signed to score goals.

He had a bunch of chances against the Jackets but was robbed by goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Still, I’m very impressed with what we’re seeing from him thus far.

9. Funny stat: It took four wins for the Avs to score an empty netter. I believe they had an empty net to shoot at in each of the first three wins, too.

Even though it was on this goal, it’s nice to see Landeskog get on the scoresheet with an assist.

10. Congrats to Cale Makar for playing in his 400th career regular season game. I loved the little snippet from the guys on Altitude TV. Makar basically told them that all these milestones feel so irrelevant after watching Brent Burns reach 1,500.

To put it into perspective, Makar would have to play every single game this season, and all 84 games in each of the next 12 seasons after this, and he’d still be just short at 1,485.