Avalanche at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are getting a bit antsy to start playing games again, finally returning to the ice Friday at home against the Colorado Avalanche following a week-long break after their two-game series in Finland last week. The Jets, who split two games with the Florida Panthers in Helsinki, will play just their third game in a 13-day span Friday, and while the practice time has been beneficial, the players are ready to resume the season.
“It almost feels like it’s too much,” Jets center Bryan Little admitted to reporters on Wednesday. “We’re ready to start playing games again and everyone’s kind of back into it, so ready to go.” While the Jets hope the extended break results in better 5-on-5 play, the Avalanche have stumbled following their 7-2-2 start - earning just one point in their past four games after Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat to Nashville. “I think our execution was poor,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar told reporters after the game, citing two goals overturned by offside calls. The matchup features two of the top power plays in the NHL, as Winnipeg entered Thursday second at 33.3 percent and the Avalanche sat tied for seventh at 26.4 percent.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude2 (Colorado), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (7-5-3): Matt Calvert scored his first Colorado goal Wednesday, while Semyon Varlamov recorded 30 saves in losing his fourth consecutive appearance (allowing nine goals in his past two outings). Forward Mikko Rantanen entered Thursday leading the NHL in points (24) and assists (19) - two points ahead of teammate Nathan MacKinnon (11 goals, 11 assists). The Avalanche have allowed five power-play goals on 16 attempts across the past four games.
ABOUT THE JETS (8-5-1): Forward Patrik Laine scored four goals in two games in his native country, shaking off a slow start in which he scored just three times in 12 games. Forward Blake Wheeler’s 14 assists is tied for fourth in the league through Wednesday, while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is 5-5-1 after starting both games against the Panthers. Winnipeg has dropped three of its past five games, giving up 14 goals during that stretch.
OVERTIME
1. MacKinnon recorded his 200th NHL assist Wednesday.
2. Jets F Brendan Lemieux was suspended two games for an illegal check to the head on Florida F Vincent Trocheck during the final game in Finland.
3. Winnipeg and Colorado split their four meetings a season ago, the Avalanche winning twice at home in overtime and the Jets capturing their two home games by a combined score of 9-1.