Time: 8:00 CT
TV: TSN 3
Radio: TSN 1290
Introduction:
Game 81 of the season brings the Jets to the Mile High City to face the Colorado Avalanche. The Jets pulled off an overtime win Monday night in Chicago, and followed that with a listless 5 – 1 loss against geographic arch rival, Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Inexplicably, the Wild have swept the regular season series against the Jets. It was a hard game to watch. Hopefully, the players meeting held immediately following the game will snap the team out of this steadily worsening funk. Obvious statement, but very bad timing to be in a funk, Jets.
Colorado lost in a shoot out Monday night to the St. Louis Blues, and followed that up with a 6 – 2 win against the eliminated Edmonton Oilers. Based on that win, the Avalanche are very close to clinching a wildcard playoff spot over the Arizona Coyotes. They will be motivated tonight against the struggling Jets. Last time in Denver, the Jets took a 7 -1 beat down in perhaps their worst game of the season. Playoff hockey is almost upon us. The Jets need to ratchet up the intensity level quickly if they hope to last longer than the first round. Tonight’s game in Colorado needs to be treated with playoff level importance by the Jets.
Frenemy Blog:
| Winnipeg Jets | Colorado Avalanche |
|---|---|
| Record: 46 30 4 | Record: 37 29 14 |
| Last Ten Games: 5 5 | Last Ten Games: 7 1 2 |
| Who Is Hot: Full credit to Jacob Trouba who is having a career season in terms of points and has had to step up in the absences of Morrissey and Byfuglien. | Who Is Hot: Nathan MacKinnon is a legitimate superstar at age 23. |
| Who is Not: Patrik Laine only has two more points than Jacob Trouba this year, in the same number of games. If I had predicted that before the season started I would have been challenged to several duels by Laine supporters. | Who Is Not: Derek Brassard has not had a great year statistically. Yet, he was worth taking a chance on as he only cost the Avalanche a third and sixth round pick. |
| Keep an Eye On: Connor Hellebuyck. Average or below level goaltending equals a first round playoff exit for this version of the Jets. | Keep an Eye On: Philipp Grubuaer was the NHL third star of the week recently. He is starting to get hot. |
