Avalanche 4, Jets 3 (SO)
Ryan O'Reilly scored the tying goal late in the third period and Nathan MacKinnon netted the decisive tally in the shootout as host Colorado halted its four-game losing streak.
MacKinnon opened the bonus format by beating Ondrej Pavelec high to the glove side and Matt Duchene lifted a backhander past the goaltender in the second round before rookie Calvin Pickard denied Blake Wheeler to clinch the win in his shootout debut. Duchene recorded a goal and an assist in regulation, Jarome Iginla also tallied and Pickard made 30 saves as the Avalanche improved to 1-1-0 on their three-game homestand.
Mark Scheifele scored a goal and set up two others for the Jets, who extended their point streak to eight games (5-0-3). Captain Andrew Ladd and defenseman Paul Postma netted power-play goals, Michael Frolik notched a pair of assists and Pavelec turned aside 23 shots.
After a scoreless first period, Ladd gave Winnipeg the lead 1:21 into the second by whacking a loose puck in the crease past Pickard after the netminder made a pair of saves. Colorado answered 2:34 later as Duchene received a cross-slot pass from defenseman Jan Hejda and chipped the puck behind Pavelec from the right side of the crease.
The Jets moved back ahead with 5:20 remaining in the session, when Postma pinched into the low slot to bury a shot after Scheifele's cross-slot pass attempt from the left circle deflected off Hejda's stick. Scheifele beat Pickard high to the glove side from the right circle 4:32 into the third for a 3-1 lead, but Iginla scored from a similar spot at 12:55 and O'Reilly knocked in the rebound of captain Gabriel Landeskog's right-circle blast with 2:42 left to forge a tie.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Pickard made a big stop on a breakaway by Ladd and a brilliant save on Bryan Little's rebound attempt midway through overtime. ... Winnipeg D Dustin Byfuglien was kept off the scoresheet, ending his five-game point streak. ... Seven of the last eight meetings between the Central Division rivals have been decided by one goal, with six going beyond regulation. ... Colorado improved to 2-5-2 against division rivals.