NHL Game of the Week: Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnipeg Jets
The 2023 NHL season is nearly over, as some teams scramble to make or keep a playoff spot while others peer ahead to the postseason.
Yes, that magical time of the year of playoff hockey is almost here. But before we get there, two teams that have clinched their spots are set to battle.
The Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche will square off one last time in the regular season. Puck drop is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, at 8 p.m. at Colorado’s home venue of Ball Arena.
The Jets are fourth in the Central Division and hold a 46-32-3 overall record. The Avalanche are first in the Central Division posting a 49-24-6 record.
On Tuesday, Winnipeg picked up a crucial 3-1 win against the Minnesota Wild to secure the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
The Jets’ official Twitter page tweeted “BRING ON THE WHITEOUT” in response to the victory. Winnipeg is riding on a three-game win streak and is aiming to carry momentum into the postseason.
For Colorado, the playoffs have been locked up for a while now. The squad is tasked with winning the Central Division and defending the Stanley Cup, as the Avalanche are one point ahead of the Dallas Stars.
Colorado lost to the Edmonton Oilers in overtime on Tuesday but hasn’t lost in regulation since March 29 against the Wild.
The Jets and Avalanche meet for the fourth time this season, with Winnipeg winning two of the three with a 5-1 loss in the latest matchup on Feb. 24.
Colorado’s top performers are Mikko Rantanen who has 54 goals and 48 assists, and the team’s points leader Nathan MacKinnon claiming 39 goals and 68 assists. Over the last 10 games, Devon Toews has nine assists.
Winnipeg’s top performers consist of Mark Scheifele with 42 goals and 26 assists, and Kyle Conner netting 31 pucks and assisting 49 times. Josh Morrissey has one goal and six assists in the last 10 contests.
The last couple of matches between the Avalanche and Jets have not been close, but expect this duel to have a more competitive look like the Oct. 19 overtime game that Winnipeg took 4-3 in Denver, CO.
Despite these squads not needing to fight for their right to party in the playoffs, the usual high intensity will be present for some quality hockey to round off the season.
Winnipeg has only been giving up 1.8 goals per game over the last 10 games thanks to stellar defense and performances by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, but stinting Rantanen and Colorado’s 3.8-goal average over that same span will be a challenge.
This will be the Jets’ last game of the 2023 season, while the Avalanche face the Nashville Predators on Friday for their last contest.
Looking ahead at the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as of right now the Avalanche would play against the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken hold the first wildcard spot, and make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
The Jets would be pitted against the Vegas Golden Knights, who lead the Western Conference in points with 109.
Jake Irwin is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jpi5089@psu.edu.
