Avalanche at Jets
Do not be surprised if the Colorado Avalanche are happy to open a two-game road trip Sunday afternoon at the Winnipeg Jets, given they have not won a home game since the middle of November. The Avalanche lost seven games in a row in Denver (0-6-1), the latest a lackluster 3-1 loss to Florida on Friday that left them with an NHL-worst 23 points.
“We’d like to be playing our best hockey in front of our fans, and it’s been the opposite,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar told reporters in describing the Avalanche being 7-7-0 on the road but 4-10-1 on home ice. “We’ve played our best hockey on the road.” The Jets snapped a four-game losing streak with a much-needed victory over the Panthers on Thursday, rallying for a 4-3 shootout win. Winnipeg is 1-for-14 on the power play in its past five games, an area of focus during Saturday’s practice. “Just play simple,” Jets rookie forward Patrik Laine told reporters after the workout. “A lot of shots and easy passes. I think that’s the key.”
TV: 3 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (11-17-1): Colorado also is working on its power play after going 0-for-6 with a man advantage Friday and is 2-of-18 in its past five games. Center Matt Duchene assisted on the Avalanche’s lone goal Friday, and has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past six contests. Goaltender Calvin Pickard (5-5-1, 2.88 goals-against average, .904 goals-against average) gets the start for Colorado on Sunday in his hometown.
ABOUT THE JETS (14-16-3): The Jets allowed eight power-play goals in their past four games - three in the second period Thursday - and are near the bottom of the league in penalty kill (75.6 percent). Laine ranks among the league leaders in goals (17) and power-play markers (seven). Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves in Thursday’s victory, has a 2.40 GAA at home compared to 3.27 on the road.
OVERTIME
1. The Jets and Avalanche split their first two meetings of the season (both in Denver) with Winnipeg winning 1-0 on Oct. 28 and Colorado capturing a 3-2 overtime victory Nov. 11.
2. Colorado is among the league leaders in faceoffs won at 53.8 percent.
3. Pickard makes his third consecutive start as G Semyon Varlamov recovers from a groin injury; Varlamov took part in Saturday’s practice before the Avalanche left Denver.