Coyle's Four-Point Night Powers Blue Jackets' 7-2 Rout of Avalanche

The Columbus Blue Jackets produced one of the shocks of the NHL season on Tuesday night, routing the Colorado Avalanche 7-2 at Nationwide Arena behind a four-point night from Charlie Coyle. Mathieu Olivier scored just 28 seconds after the opening faceoff, and Coyle and Valeri Nichushkin struck 39 seconds apart in a four-goal second period that blew the game open. Coyle finished with two goals and tied a career high with four points, while Olivier added two assists, Cole Sillinger contributed a goal and an assist, and Jake Christiansen and Ivan Provorov also scored, with Zach Werenski adding two assists. The seven goals were a season high for Columbus, who ended a two-game losing run in style against one of the league's heavyweights. The outburst was all the more remarkable given the Blue Jackets came into the night ranked 29th in the NHL at just 2.33 goals per game, surpassing that average before the second period was even a quarter old. Colorado, who had won 5-2 at Chicago on Monday to snap a three-game skid away from home, had no answer once Columbus found its rhythm, and the Avalanche allowed a goal in the first minute for the second straight night. For the Blue Jackets, the rout was a statement that their attack, so often misfiring this season, can overwhelm anyone when it clicks.