Avalanche host Jets for the first time since December 2019

Returning to begin a three-game homestand, the Colorado Avalanche face off against the Winnipeg Jets in their first matchup since 2019. The game begins at 7:00 p.m. MT on Thursday.
The Avs just returned from Chicago, where they faced the Blackhawks. In a 4-3 overtime thriller, Colorado secured the win, now eyeing a three-game winning streak since returning to the ice.

Erik Johnson scored two goals to lead the team in Chicago, while Alex Newhook also scored one of his own. Lastly, Cale Makar secured an Avalanche victory with the game-winning overtime goal. Nazem Kadri tallied two assists, while Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Andre Burakovsky each posted one.
The remainder of the homestand will involve matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken, the first time the 32nd franchise will play in Ball Arena.

Avalanche vs. Winnnipeg Jets

Ball Arena | Denver, Colo.
| Game Time: | 7 p.m. MT | | --- | --- | | TV: | Altitude, TSN3 (WPG) - blackouts apply | | Radio: | Altitude Sports Radio, FM 92.5/AM 950 (KKSE) | | Live Streams: | AltitudeNow.com, Official app, ESPN+- blackouts apply | | Online Audio: | Listen Live Here | | Follow: | @Avalanche, Official app, Gamecenter | | Buy Tickets | Ball Arena Policies |

COLORADO-WINNIPEG CONNECTIONS

Erik Johnson and Jets' captain Blake Wheeler played together at the University of Minnesota in 2006-07… J.T. Compher and Winnipeg center Andrew Copp were teammates in 2013-14 at the University of Michigan… Jets' forward Mark Scheifele and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck played with Nathan MacKinnon for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
HISTORY
The Avs maintain a 23-19-5 record against the Jets. When playing on home ice, Colorado holds a 14-7 record versus Winnipeg.
The two teams have not played against one another since December of 2019, a match in which, at home, the Avs fell to the Jets 7-4.
ROSTER REPORT
Hunter Miska, Cal Burke and Mikhail Maltsev have been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles.
INJURY REPORT
Valeri Nichushkin will sit for the second straight game to an upper-body injury. Ryan Murray is practicing but is expected to stay sidelined with a lower-body injury. Stefan Matteau remains out with a lower-body injury and will not see action for weeks.
SCOUTING THE JETS
The Jets face the Avalanche as the final leg of their three-game road trip, having won each of the past two games against the Vegas Golden Knights and the Arizona Coyotes. Winnipeg's two upcoming home matches have been postponed due to health and safety protocol.
The Jets sit at the fifth seed in the Central Division, two spots behind Colorado. Currently, the team operates at 12th in the league in power play, converting 21 percent of their opportunities, and 29th on penalty kills, holding the line 71.6 percent of that time.
(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: Kyle Connor
Left wing Kyle Connor is tied at 11th for points by all skaters in the NHL. He is averaging just over a point a game with 32 games played and 35 points collected, and he has posted three points in Winnipeg's two most recent matchups.
NUMBERS GAME
18
Nathan MacKinnon has had a point in every game since returning from injury, resulting in 18 points in 11 games.
300
Sam Girard has officially played in 300 NHL games.
31
With his game-winner against the Blackhawks, Cale Makar has earned the spot of 31st in franchise history on the game-winning goals leaderboard.
NOTEBOOK
Erik Johnson notched his second career multi-goal game facing the Blackhawks. His last such game came on December 13, 2014, against the St. Louis Blues. Cale Makar also scored his first overtime game-winning goal against Chicago. It is his fourth game-winner of the season, which leads all NHL defensemen this year.