The avalanche vs jets matchup brings the league-leading Colorado Avalanche into Winnipeg, with projected lineups, injury notes and goaltending decisions shaping expectations ahead of the game. The Jets enter the meeting looking for a way to slow an Avalanche team described as the season’s cream of the crop.
Avalanche Vs Jets Projected Lineups
Projected forward groupings, injury lists and goaltender notes provided ahead of the game:
- Avalanche forwards: Nazem Kadri — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas; Joel Kiviranta — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin; Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Nicolas Roy. Injured: Gabriel Landeskog (lower body), Artturi Lehkonen (upper body), Logan O’Connor (hip surgery).
- Jets forwards: Kyle Connor — Mark Scheifele — Alex Iafallo; Cole Perfetti — Adam Lowry — Gabriel Vilardi; Gustav Nyquist — Jonathan Toews — Isak Rosén; Cole Koepke — Morgan Barron — Brad Lambert. Injured: Nino Niederreiter (knee), Neal Pionk (undisclosed), Colin Miller (knee), Vladislav Namestnikov (lower body).
- Goaltending and recent notes: The Avalanche dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen in a 5-1 win at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. Blackwood is expected to start after Wedgewood made 28 saves Thursday. The Jets are expected to dress the same lineup they used in a 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday.
Jets Seek To Find A Way Against League-Leading Colorado
The Jets come into the matchup having dropped consecutive games during an eight-game homestand and face a club that has been described as the cream of the crop this season. If Winnipeg is to turn its stretch around, it will need to slow Colorado’s offense and limit a team that controls a large share of play with puck possession.
Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said the Avalanche are dangerous offensively and that they don’t give up a lot, noting the series of upcoming meetings presents an opportunity for his club to step up. The teams are scheduled to meet three times in the next three weeks, increasing the stakes for adjustments and response.
The Jets held an optional practice Friday and are expected to ice the same group that played in their recent loss. For Colorado, momentum from a 5-1 road win and a returning expected starter in net frame the challenge Winnipeg faces as it searches for answers in these head-to-head matchups.
