COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets look to extend their home winning streak to eight games when they host the Colorado Avalanche at Nationwide Arena on Monday at 7 p.m.The surging Blue Jackets (10-4-2) will be playing the second game of a back-to-back after they beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 at the Verizon Center on Sunday for their fourth straight win. The Avalanche (8-9-0) claimed a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center.The Blue Jackets hold a 5-0-0 record versus current division leaders (Montreal, Anaheim, New York Rangers and Chicago) and are 2-0-0 versus Washington, the reigning Presidents Trophy winners. They are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and have won seven stright at home.One of the reasons Columbus is having consistent success is 22-year-old center Alexander Wennberg. He leads the team with 14 assists and is second to captain Nick Foligno in points with 17.Now in his third year with the team, Wennberg (3-14-17 in 16 games) is showing more confidence in shooting the puck while showcasing the latent skill the club hoped for when they drafted the Swede 14th overall in 2013.Hes an important guy for us, for as young as our team is, said Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella. Hes probably one of the most skilled players, most skilled center (on team). Its a big year for him to take more responsibility in his play, away from the puck and with the puck.Hes still young, but hes a third-year pro. This is a big year for him and I think hes started off very well.Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (10-4-1) has started 15 of 16 games for Columbus, holding a 2.19 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.The Avalanche are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games. They are without the services of two of their centers and team leaders due to injury. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog has a lower-body injury suffered in Los Angeles last Tuesday and assistant captain Matt Duchene suffered a concussion on Nov. 11 against Winnipeg.Duchene hopes to be able to play at Columbus.I would say its definitely a possibility, he told the Denver Post. Im not going to say for sure, because I thought I was going to be good for Dallas and then two hours later, Im sitting on the plane and Im not feeling good. Its an up-to-the-minute thing. Itll probably be a game-time decision even then.Despite missing his fourth consecutive game on Saturday, the 25-year old Duchene still leads the team with six goals in 13 games (five assists, 11 points). Landeskog is third on the team in points with eight (four goals, four assists in 15 games).Center Nathan MacKinnon, 21, leads the club in assists and points, recording 4-8-12 in 17 games.Weve pushed hard in some of the games, especially the Dallas game, lately, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told the Denver Post. But we came up short. (Saturday) we kept pushing. It didnt matter what the score was, we tried to stay with our game.Its showing the character that our guys have and were starting to move in the right direction.The Avalanche are hoping goaltender Semyon Varlamov asserts himself soon. Hes 4-8-0 with a 3.01 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 12 games. Backup netminder Calvin Pickard is 4-1-0 in six games with a 2.07 GAA and .931 save percentage. Michael Porter Nuggets Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Allen Iverson Nuggets Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Jamal-Murray-Nuggets-Jersey/ . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Nikola Jokic Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Jamal Murray Jersey . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise.MINNEAPOLIS -- Everything went right for Canadian Andrew Albers when he started his major league career with the Minnesota Twins by not allowing a run in his first two starts. The breaks went the other way in his third outing. Minnesota misplayed two fly balls by losing them in the sky and Albers scoreless streak to start his career was snapped at 17 1-3 innings as the Chicago White Sox beat the Twins 8-5 Saturday. Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run homer off the North Battleford, Sask., native and Alejandro De Aza added a two-run shot in the ninth after the Twins had climbed back within a run. "I was able to catch the breaks those first two nights, and tonight didnt quite catch as many," Albers said. "Things change, and then you make one bad pitch, and you pay for it. Its a fine line in this game, and sometimes, thats how things go." Chris Sale (9-11) won his third straight start for the White Sox, giving up three runs and nine hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts and Addison Reed earned his career-high 30th save in 35 chances. Albers (2-1) was dazzling in his first two starts, making use of a mid-80s fastball, changeup and slow curve to get ahead of hitters. But he struggled to get strike one against Chicago early Saturday and allowed five runs and eight hits in seven innings. Chicago snapped Albers scoreless streak -- a record for a Twins starter to begin a career -- with a run in the first after Alexei Ramirezs fly ball to centre field was lost in the sun. De Aza, who opened with a single, went to third on the play and scored on Paul Konerkos RBI groundout. "The sky played a little havoc with us today and cost us a couple of runs, and there you have it," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. Albers had two outs in the fourth before allowing four straight runners to reach base, concluding with Viciedos homer to left. But he retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced to reach the seventh inning for the third time in three starts. "The streak was greatt while it was going on," Albers said.dddddddddddd "It was awesome to have those two nights. Theyre pretty special, and who knows if that will ever happen again. You see today how quickly things can change, and its one of those things where youve got to get some breaks for it to happen like that." Adam Dunn had three hits for the White Sox after left fielder Josh Willingham lost another high pop-up in the eighth, giving Chicago a 6-3 lead. "Just didnt see it," Willingham said. "Some unfortunate stuff," Gardenhire said. "What are you going to do? You lose the ball. You cant see it, its hard to catch. Thats the way it is this time of night and both teams have to deal with it, and we end up losing." Ryan Doumit hit a two-run homer in the Twins eighth off Nate Jones. Minnesota homered for the 10th straight game, its longest streak since 11 consecutive in August 2007. Joe Mauer doubled and drove in two runs for the Twins, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Willingham, Brian Dozier and Pedro Florimon all finished with two hits and scored a run. Florimon had just one hit in his previous 26 at-bats. NOTES: Twins 1B Justin Morneau pinch-hit in the ninth, but didnt start for the first time since July 11 with Sale on the mound. ... Minnesota agreed to terms with INF Brad Boyer of the St. Paul Saints independent league team on Saturday. Boyer, 29, is hitting .337 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs in 78 games. The former draft pick of the Seattle Mariners (2005, 14th round) and San Francisco Giants (2006, 13th round) will report to Double-A New Britain. The Twins have had success with independent league signees, including Albers, LHP Caleb Thielbar also from the Saints and recently demoted Chris Colabello. ... Hector Santiago (3-7, 3.37 ERA) will try to win for the first time since June 21 as he takes the mound for the White Sox on Sunday. The lefty is 0-2 in his last nine starts. The Twins will counter with Samuel Deduno (7-6, 3.54 ERA). ' ' '