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)
