Poor first period dooms Avalanche, fall to Blue Jackets 3-2

At this point, you expect the Avalanche to start the game off slowly. One way or another, they’ll allow the opposing team to jump ahead, if not on the scoreboard, then at least in momentum—but usually on the scoreboard, which happened again tonight in a frustrating 3-2 to the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets.

The first Blue Jackets goal came about five minutes into the first immediately following a Rene Bourque holding penalty. No, it wasn’t a power play goal, but the Avalanche failed to clear the puck from their zone and never did get situated afterward defensively. Brandon Saad blasted one home after receiving a pass from below Scott Hartnell below the goal line to put his team up 1-0. The…