Avalanche 4, Jets 1
WINNIPEG -- The Colorado Avalanche capped off a seven-game road trip with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
Cody McLeod scored the winner at 6:45 of the third period when defenseman Zach Redmond's shot caromed off the left winger and past goaltender Michael Hutchinson.
It was the fifth goal of the season for McLeod, who grew up some 200 miles northwest of Winnipeg in Binscarth, (population 425).
Colorado center Matt Duchene salted the game away with his 11th of the season at 16:11 of the third period on a partial breakaway. Left winger Blake Comeau added an empty-net goal with 1:10 left.
The Avalanches played seven games in 15 nights, tied for the longest road trip in team history. They posted a 4-3-0 record during the stretch.
Jets defenseman Toby Enstrom opened the scoring at 14:40 of the first period with a seeing-eye wrist shot that eluded Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who made 20 saves in his first game since missing seven because of a groin injury. Left winger Andrew Ladd and right winger Blake Wheeler drew the assists.
It was Enstrom's first goal in 41 games dating back to Feb. 19 of last season.
Enstrom, 31, who entered the game with six assists, is on pace for one of his worst offensive seasons of his career. That's largely why Winnipeg's highest-paid player -- he makes $5.75 million -- is reportedly on the trading block.
Despite having a large territorial edge in play, including several lengthy stretches where Colorado defenders were hemmed in their own zone, the Jets were unable to increase their lead.
That cost them after a cross-checking penalty to defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. The Avalanche tied it up at 16:43 when center Carl Soderberg banked a shot off Winnipeg defenseman Tyler Myers' skate past Hutchinson. Fellow center Mikhail Grigorenko and defenseman Francois Beauchemin got the assists.
Hutchinson robbed birthday boy Gabriel Landeskog on a partial breakaway early in the third period. Colorado's captain turned 23 on Monday.
The Avalanche outshot the Jets 29-21.
NOTES: Jets G Ondrej Pavelec is out until the New Year after being run into by Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan on Saturday night. He was reportedly seen leaving the rink on crutches. The Jets called up G Connor Hellebuyck from the Manitoba Moose to replace him. ... The Jets also called up forward RW Joel Armia. He was part of the blockbuster trade that netted Drew Stafford and Tyler Myers for Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian. ... In the press box as healthy scratches for the Jets are D Paul Postma, D Ben Chiarot and RW Armia. Joining them from the Avalanche are D Nate Guenin and C John Mitchell.