DENVER - The Winnipeg Jets open a four-game road trip tonight with their first match-up of the season against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Jets (14-8-2) have won two in a row and hold down third spot in the Central Division. As for the Avalanche (16-7-2), they're 5-1-2 in their last eight games and are in top spot in the Central.
With only four points separating the two teams in the standings, Cole Perfetti sees tonight’s game as an opportunity.
“We know we’re an elite team, and we know they’re an elite team, and this is obviously a huge game fighting for points in the Central,” said Perfetti. “They’re a really good team and they’re playing well. Their roster is really strong and we’re aware of that, but we’re worried about ourselves and worried about our game - what we can control. If we go out and handle things that we know we can do, and play the way we can, and put an honest effort in, it should go well.”
Winnipeg comes into the game with some momentum, as they earned victories in the last two games of a four-game home stand (over Chicago and Carolina).
Mason Appleton said there were some similar themes the Jets can take into tonight’s tilt with Colorado, the first of three meetings between the two this season.
“Chicago, we liked a lot of our game. Carolina was one of those games where it wasn’t flashy at all, but we found a way to win - that’s what’s important at the end of the day in this league,” Appleton said after the morning skate. “Heading in to play a potent Colorado team, we’ll be ready for the challenge. We’re feeling good about ourselves.”
The challenge the Jets face against the Avalanche is a bit different than what they went up against in the 2-1 win over the Hurricanes on Monday.
Both are dangerous off the rush, but Appleton says they go about it a different way.
“Carolina is more of a flip it out there and try to recover pucks that way, and they blow the zone a little bit more. Colorado is a bit more of a possession game coming up the ice with the puck,” said Appleton. “Guys like (Nathan) McKinnon and (Mikko) Rantanen like to loop and gather it with speed, then knife through the neutral zone and try to beat you from there.”
LINE RUSHES
Defenceman Logan Stanley will play in his second consecutive game tonight, and fifth of the season.
Stanley played 12:58 and had two shots on goal in the win over Carolina.
“We have eight defence that all deserve to play, and we can’t,” said head coach Rick Bowness.
“We liked his game last game. We’ve been throwing him in and out of the line-up and it’s tough for a player to get a good feel for his game and feel like he’s contributing to the team’s success if he’s in and out of the line-up and can’t find his game. We like his size, we like his physicality. He didn’t chase the game and he did what we needed him to do.”
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Connor Hellebuyck is expected to get the start in goal. In his last outing, Hellebuyck stopped 20 of 21 shots in the win over the Chicago Blackhawks, giving him a 5-2-0 record in his last seven starts.
With Nate Schmidt and Declan Chisholm not in the line-up - two players that usually hold down a spot on the second power play unit - there will be an adjustment on the Jets power play.
Brenden Dillon and Adam Lowry rotated in the fifth spot on the unit with Nikolaj Ehlers, Neal Pionk, Nino Niederreiter, and Alex Iafallo.
“If we need to win the face-off it’ll probably be Adam,” said Bowness. “The way that’s set up, we don’t have a centre to win the draw.”
FORMER TEAMMATES
There might come a time in Thursday’s tilt where Cole Perfetti will go up against a familiar face in a one-on-one. The Jets forward and Avalanche defenceman Bowen Byram played for Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championship, earning a silver medal.
“There is a lot to like in his game. He’s a pretty elite player,” said Perfetti. “We were on the same power play unit so we spent a lot of time together, and I got a front row seat of what he can do. It’s pretty special the way he can skate, see the ice, his offensive ability, but he’s also not fun to play against. He’s got a bit of an edge.”
