Jets look like division contenders with convincing win
A slow start on offense and a couple of defensive breakdowns spurred on a long night in Winnipeg for the Colorado Avalanche.
Gabe Vilardi scored twice, and the Jets handled the Avalanche with relative ease for the second time in nine days in a 6- 2 victory. This also looked more like a few of those early- season blowout losses than any of the Avs’ recent run of results.
Most pundits saw the Central Division race as a two- team battle between the Avalanche and Dallas Stars in the preseason, but the Jets moved ahead of Colorado in the standings with this win and looked impressive even without leading goal- scorer Kyle Connor.
WHERE’S MAKAR? >> Cale Makar missed the game with a lower- body injury. He took part in the morning skate, according to reporters in Winnipeg. Makar has been dealing with a nagging injury for a while. Avs head coach Jared Bednar admitted that both he and Josh Manson have been nursing something. Makar has been heading for the bench during power plays earlier than the other guys on PP1, and he’s been noticeably less nimble at times. He’s also still been really good most nights, but the Avs certainly would like him to get closer to 100 percent as soon as possible.
LOW ENERGY START >> There were some issues without the puck in this game, but the Avs never really gave themselves a chance because the offense sputtered while the Jets built a three- goal lead. Colorado had 10
shot attempts in the first period, including only eight at 5- on- 5. That’s easily one of the lowest totals in any period this season for the club.
BAD GIVEAWAYS >> The second period was a little better, but three of the most threatening chances didn’t hit the net, either because the Avs’ shooter missed or because a Jets’ defender prevented it. Winnipeg also took a 3- 0 lead after a rough turnover by defenseman Caleb Jones. His pass from behind the net ended up right on the stick of Alex Iafallo in the slot, which led to a wicked backhanded goal. It nearly got worse immediately when Nathan Mackinnon had a bad turnover, but Nikolai Ehler’s shot went off the post.
TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF THE NET >> The first half of the opening period was OK for the Avs, but it felt like the
Jets were threatening more despite registering only one shot on goal. When they started getting to the net, it started going in. Vilardi scored on a pass from Mark Scheifele at 13: 56 and then former Colorado forward Vladislav Namestnikov added another one from the slot in the power play 1: 42 later. Hard to blame goalie Ivan Prosvetov for either of them, but he looked a little awkward on both — it looked like the bodies in front of him bothered his ability to square up to the shot on the second one, in particular.
EXTENDED LOOK >> Prosvetov started in net in back- to- back games for the first time this season. He’s also now started three times in four contests, and the fourth one he relieved Alexandar Georgiev for the third period and got the win in a wild 6- 5 comeback against Calgary.
This is the type of thing that might cause some overreactions, but Bednar had already said both goalies would play this weekend because of the back- to- back, and the backup goalie usually plays on the road when it’s a home- and- road situation. This situation is a little different because it’s Winnipeg ( a challenger for the Central Division title) and then Georgiev is likely to play Sunday against San Jose ( a bottomfive team in the league). Georgiev played a ton to start the year, so it also makes sense to get Prosvetov a little extra work now.
Tomas Tatar is now in Seattle, which meant Ben Meyers earned his first game on the second line next to Ryan Johansen and Jonathan Drouin. That line didn’t accomplish much, and spent a lot of time in the defensive end. Don’t be surprised if the Avs continue to tinker with that line until Artturi Lehkonen is ready to return from a neck injury.