COLUMBUS, Ohio >> Cale Makar scored to become just the ninth NHL defenseman with 30 goals in a season and the Colorado Avalanche clinched a playoff berth with a 7-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

Makar also had two assists while Charlie Coyle, Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews had a goal and two assists each for the Avalanche, who scored five straight times after falling behind 3-2 in the second period.

Miles Wood, Parker Kelly and Brock Nelson also scored for Colorado while Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves.

Sean Monahan, Zachary Aston-Reese and Boone Jenner scored for the Blue Jackets and Elvis Merzlikins made 21 saves before being lifted with about 14 minutes to play.

Takeaways

The Avalanche secured a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the win, their second in two nights after beating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in a shootout on Wednesday.

The Blue Jackets needed a win to stay close in the chase for an Eastern Conference wild card, but the loss coupled with Montreal’s win over Boston put them four points behind the Canadiens.

Key moment

After Jenner extended his points streak to six games with a second-period goal that gave Columbus a 3-2 lead, Coyle and Kelly scored just 1:23 apart later in the period to give Colorado the lead for good.

Key stat

With his goal, Makar became just the ninth NHL defenseman and first since Washington’s Mike Green in the 2008-2009 season to reach the 30-goal mark in a season.

Makar put the Avalanche up 5-2 by scoring a power-play goal with 38 seconds left in the second period.

He was set up in the left circle for a one-timer by a pass from MacKinnon.

Overall, NHL blue liners have now combined to reach 30 goals 18 times, led by Bobby Orr, who had five 30-goal seasons.

Paul Coffey (four) and Denis Potvin (three) are the only others to have had multiple 30-goal seasons.

The list is rounded out by Ray Bourque, Kevin Hatcher, Phil Housley and Doug Wilson.

With the goal and two assists, the 26-year-old Makar also increased his point total to 90, matching the franchise record for defenseman he set last season.

In doing so, he became the NHL’s fifth defenseman to produce consecutive 90-point seasons, and first since Coffey (1988-89 to 1990-91) and Al MacInnis (1989-90 to 1990-91)

Columbus forward Zach Aston-Reese scored his fifth goal of the season and first since Nov. 15 — a span of 58 games.

Up next

The Avalanche finish a three-game road trip at the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.

The Blue Jackets visit the Toronto Maple Leafs, also on Saturday night.