With the Western Conference’s best team in town, Wednesday presented a test for the streaky Avalanche. Colorado flunked.
DENVER — Neal Pionk scored 17 seconds into overtime, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck started the winning play when he sent the puck to Vladislav Namestnikov, who fed Pionk skating down the right side. Pionk’s slap shot beat Mackenzie Blackwood to end Winnipeg’s two-game skid.
However, their defensive play appeared somewhat unstable, as both of the Jets' regulation goals stemmed from lapses in coverage in front of the net. Despite the loss, Cale Makar expressed strong admiration for Nathan MacKinnon, who scored a goal during the game.
Adam Lowry is Winnipeg's de facto No. 2 centre, making his extended absence a troubling item for the top team in the West.
In 62 previous regular-season matchups against the Jets, the Avalanche are 29-26-7. This season, the home teams are undefeated, with the Jets winning in Winnipeg on November 7 and January 11 while the Avs won in Denver on December 31.
Wednesday in the NHL features an enticing Central Division matchup, with the Winnipeg Jets heading to Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league each day!
DENVER -- Neal Pionk scored 17 seconds into overtime, giving the Winnipeg Jets a 3-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Wednesday. Pionk won it with a slap shot from the top of the right face-off circle.
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Neal Pionk scored the game-winning goal 17 seconds into overtime and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night. Pionk’s shot from inside the left face-off circle zipped over the right shoulder of Mackenzie Blackwood, before pinging off the crossbar. The goal was Pionk’s seventh of the season.
Neal Pionk scored 17 seconds into overtime and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in Denver on Wednesday night.
Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar scored for Colorado ... He returned to start the third but left again and didn’t return. Jets: Winnipeg rebounded from a loss at Utah that coach Scott Arniel ...
Colorado Avalanche captain Nathan MacKinnon spoke candidly about his feelings following the blockbuster trade that sent his longtime teammate Mikko Rantanen away from the only franchise he'd ever played for. "It's unfortunate," MacKinnon said, per DNVR Avalanche. “Losing a great friend, great teammate. I’m gonna miss him.