Preview and GDT: Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche

Time: 7:00 PM CST

Channel: TSN3, ALT

Radio: TSN1290

It’s been a little less than two weeks since the last time the Winnipeg Jets (33-15-9) took on the Colorado Avalanche (31-21-4) at Bell MTS Place.

On that date, the Jets prevailed by a 3-0 score, as the Avalanche were dominated for most of the night by a Jets team capitalized on a Colorado team without superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who suffered a shoulder injury on January 30. Since the injury, the Avs have gone 4-3-0 and have fallen out of a playoff spot they put themselves in after winning 10 straight games during a stretch of December and January.

MacKinnon is nearing a return, but will not play tonight, which is good news for Jets fans. Colorado is coming off of a 2-0 win on Wednesday night over the Montreal Canadiens.

The Jets, on the other hand, prevailed in a come from behind rally for the ages on Tuesday night that left more than a few Washington Capitals fans seething, as Winnipeg prevailed 4-3 in OT off of the strength of Mark Scheifele’s two goals and Tyler Myers’ OT winner.

This is game number eight for the Jets on their 10 game home stand, during which time they have gone 4-2-1.

The morning rushes today featured a few new looks, including Andrew Copp centring Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine, while Mathieu Perreault, Bryan Little and Jack Roslovic make up a second line that should rival any line in the league in passing ability.

Connor Hellebuyck starts yet again, and will be hoping to hit the 30 win mark for the first time in his young NHL career.

Will Colorado feel low after the game?

Will the Jets fly over the Avalanche?

Tune in this evening! Same Jets time (7 PM CST), Same Jets channel (TSN 3)!

Winnipeg Jets: 33-15-9

Stat Leaders:

Goals: Patrik Laine (25)

Assists: Blake Wheeler (47)

Points: Wheeler (61)

Goalie Stat Leaders:

Wins: Connor Hellebuyck (29)

Goals Against Average: Hellebuyck (2.37)

Save Percentage: Hellebuyck (.922)

Minutes: Hellebuyck (2,764)

Special Teams: PP 23.2% (3rd), PK 82.9% (6th)

Colorado Avalanche: 31-21-4

Stat Leaders:

Goals: Nathan MacKinnon (24)

Assists: MacKinnon (37)

Points: MacKinnon (61)

Goalie Stat Leaders:

Wins: Jonathan Bernier (17)

Goals Against Average: Bernier (2.74)

Save Percentage: Bernier (.916)

Minutes: Semyon Varlamov (1,716)

Special Teams: PP 19.2% (20th), PK 83.8% (3rd)

Winnipeg Jets

FORWARDS

81 Kyle Connor / 55 Mark Scheifele / 26 Blake Wheeler

85 Mathieu Perreault / 18 Bryan Little/ 52 Jack Roslovic

27 Nikolaj Ehlers / 9 Andrew Copp/ 29 Patrik Laine

19 Nic Petan / 15 Matt Hendricks / 40 Joel Armia

DEFENCE

44 Josh Morrissey/ 57 Tyler Myers

39 Toby Enstrom/ 33 Dustin Byfuglien

7 Ben Chiarot/ 5 Dmitry Kulikov

STARTING GOALIE

37 Connor Hellebuyck

Riding the pine: 1 Eric Comrie

Scratched: 3 Tucker Poolman, 56 Marko Dano

Injured: 13 Brandon Tanev (week-to-week, upper body), 17 Adam Lowry (Upper body...again, still not skating), 35 Steve Mason (out since January 12, resumed light skating concussion), 16 Shawn Matthias (upper body, out since January 13), 8 Jacob Trouba (Out six to eight weeks from January 29, ankle), 34 Michael Hutchinson (concussion, out since February 8)

Colorado Avalanche

FORWARDS

92 Gabriel Landeskog -- 13 Alexander Kerfoot -- 22 Colin Wilson

83 Matthew Nieto -- 34 Carl Soderberg -- 14 Blake Comeau

17 Tyson Jost -- 37 J.T. Compher -- 96 Mikko Rantanen

24 A.J. Greer -- 47 Dominic Toninato -- 57 Gabriel Bourque

DEFENCE

16 Nikita Zadorov -- 6 Erik Johnson

12 Patrik Nemeth -- 49 Samuel Girard

54 Anton Lindholm -- 4 Tyson Barrie

STARTING GOALIE

45 Jonathan Bernier

Riding the pine: 1 Semyon Varlamov

Scratched: 64 Nail Yakupov, 15 Duncan Siemens

Injured: 10 Sven Andrighetto (leg, day-to-day), 91 Vladislav Kamenev (broken forearm, no timetable for return), 29 Nathan MacKinnon (upper body, out since January 30), 44 Mark Barberio (lower body injury since January 25)