Marchenko, Chinakhov and Monahan each had 3 points as the Blue Jackets defeated Avalanche 6-4

DENVER – Kirill Marchenko and Yegor Chinakhov scored three second-period goals for Columbus, and the Blue Jackets defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6-4 on Saturday night.

Marchenko and Chinakhov both had two assists. Sean Monahan also scored a goal and two assists.

Zach Werenski, Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli also scored for Columbus.

Nathan MacKinnon, Miles Wood, Casey Mittelstadt and Ross Colton scored goals for the Avalanche, but Alexandar Georgiev allowed three goals on nine shots.

Justus Annunen replaced Georgiev after Fantilli's goal 1:56 into the second period gave the Blue Jackets a 3-1 lead. Wood and Mittelstadt beat Daniil Tarasov just 1:31 apart to tie the score before Marchenko scored the go-ahead goal at 4:33.

Tarasov stopped 26 shots.

Colton scored when Annunen went off the field for an extra fielder, but Monahan shot into the empty net to seal the goal.

Takeaways
Blue Jackets: New coach Dean Evason's team played well in the first two games, losing by one goal to Minnesota and now beating Colorado to open the season. The Blue Jackets have scored seven goals in their first two games.

Avalanche: Two games into the season there is a goalkeeping crisis. Georgiev has allowed eight goals on 25 shots. Annunen hasn't been much better, and the claim that Kaapo Kahkonen is claimed off waivers is a sign that Colorado is concerned about the position.

Key moment
MacKinnon, last season's NHL MVP, was honored with a pregame highlight video, and then Denver Nuggets center and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic lifted the Hart Trophy while wearing MacKinnon's No. 29 jersey .

Key statistics
Avalanche winger Ivan Ivan scored his first NHL point when he assisted on MacKinnon's goal. MacKinnon picked up the puck to give to the rookie.

Next
The Blue Jackets play their home opener on Tuesday evening against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The Avalanche host the New York Islanders on Monday night.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL