Avalanche at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets have not experienced many losses at home this season while racing to the top of the Central Division, but they enter Saturday’s home contest against the Colorado Avalanche looking to rebound from an overtime defeat to Vegas on Thursday. The loss was just the fifth in 23 games (18-3-2) on home ice for the Jets.
“Another big point, but frustrating with some of the chances in overtime that we couldn’t get the two points,” Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey told the media after the Jets’ seven-game home winning streak ended. While the Jets let a point get away Thursday, the Avalanche snatched an extra point in overtime on J.T. Compher’s goal to cap a 4-3 victory at Edmonton. Colorado snapped a three-game losing streak and leaped past Minnesota and Los Angeles and into the final wild-card spot entering Friday. “I thought we played well enough to finish it off, but getting that extra point in overtime is huge with the playoff race on,” Compher told the media after the Avalanche improved to 2-2-1 on their current six-game road trip.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Altitude 2 (Denver), Sportsnet (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (28-18-4): In its first game since losing center and leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon to an upper-body injury, Colorado squandered a 3-1 lead and gave up the game-tying goal with 28 seconds left before Compher scored in overtime. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves in improving to 9-2-1 since the start of January. Forward Gabriel Landeskog has recorded three goals and six points in his past five games.
ABOUT THE JETS (30-13-9): Winnipeg has earned points in its past six contests and opened a 10-game homestand with three points against the top two teams in the NHL. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is tied for second in the NHL in wins (26), but suffered his eighth overtime loss of the season and has allowed 10 goals in his past three games. Joel Armia finished with a goal and an assist Thursday, while rookie Kyle Connor scored for the second consecutive game.
OVERTIME
1. The Avalanche started the weekend fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.26), but will be without MacKinnon - who is second in the NHL with 61 points - for at least the next two weeks.
2. Winnipeg ranks third in the NHL in power-play percentage (24.3 percent) overall and second in home games (30.5).
3. Colorado leads the season series 2-0, winning both games 3-2 in overtime.