If Colorado has another trip to Winnipeg this season, it will be during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avalanche will have to hope it can find its mojo from the 2024 postseason.
The Avs made the second of two regular-season appearances at Canada Life Centre on Saturday, and for the second time, they did not score a goal. Connor Hellebuyck pitched his third straight regular-season shutout against Colorado, helping the Jets to a 3-0 victory.
While the Jets were playing in a back-to-back, both games were at home, while the Avalanche was playing for the third time in four nights spanning three cities. The Avs scored 17 goals across three games in this building during the 2024 playoffs but had trouble generating chances in the final 40 minutes Saturday night en route to a second loss in three games on this road trip.
Colorado’s top guys got a little pass-heavy. Winnipeg’s defensive structure also did a great job of limiting great chances for the Avs. There were some, but Hellebuyck had a great look at most of the best ones and rebound opportunities were hard to come by.
It was a big four-point swing in the Central Division. The Jets’ lead on the Avs is now back up to eight points. Colorado had drawn within five before this trip started. The Avs will get one more game against the Jets, on Jan. 22 at Ball Arena. They’ll need that one in regulation, or the chances of chasing down the Jets will look pretty small.
Here are some observations from another long night in Manitoba for the Avs:
1. Another early hole to dig out of at Canada Life Centre felt very familiar. Nikolaj Ehlers collected a pass in the neutral zone and was able to get past Devon Toews and Cale Makar in a 1-on-2 situation before snapping a shot into the top-right corner behind Mackenzie Blackwood. Ehlers’ goal was just 1:08 into the game.
The last time Colorado came to Winnipeg, Gabe Vilardi scored 1:06 after puck drop on Nov. 7. That one came on a 2-on-1 and was the only goal in a 1-0 win for the Jets.
2. Blackwood hasn’t beaten cleanly on many shots since arriving in Denver, but Ehlers wired that one. Colorado’s goaltender settled in after the first goal. He faced tougher chances than his counterpart at the other end, particularly in the second period. He finished with 26 saves.
If this is a “down” game for Blackwood — one goal on a great shot, one after a fortunate bounce that he had no chance on — the Avalanche will certainly be happy with that.
3. The Avs controlled things for a decent chunk of the first period after falling behind. Given that Winnipeg played the night before, it felt like there was a chance for Colorado to take advantage of a tired team. But the second period was a bit of a dud for the Avs.
The Jets had a 12-5 advantage in shots on goal, but more glaring was 9-0 in high-danger scoring chances, per Natural Stat Track.
4. It doesn’t get more dangerous than a puck finding its way to Mark Scheifele alone near the left post. The Avs had the play defended well until Josh Morrissey sent the puck from Blackwood’s right into the slot. Two Avalanche players — Calvin de Haan and Artturi Lehkonen — left Scheifele and darted toward the puck.
Kyle Connor touched the puck first in a clatter of sticks, and Scheifele swung around the other side of the net to find a layup waiting for him.
5. The Avs had two power-play chances. One was pretty forgettable. The second, early in the third period, was much better. Colorado generated six shot attempts and three shots on goal, but it was another empty night with the man advantage.
That’s five games in a row without one, just when it seemed like the power play was getting hot again. Colorado is now 4 for 41 with the extra man, dating back over the past 17 games.
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