Jets Open Home-and-Home With Loss Against Colorado
Jets battled back, but MacKinnon's third-period heroics sealed a narrow victory for the Avalanche in their playoff-fueled showdown.
Thursday evening at Canada Life Centre marked the first of two-straight games between the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche. After taking care of business against the league's No. 1 team by way of a 3-1 decision on March 14, the Jets were looking to do the same some 12 days later, in what was the first test of the extended home-and-home set between the two Central Division rivals.
Photo by Danny Truong In the middle of a tooth and nail playoff dogfight and needing every point possible as the season hits its final stretch, the Jets managed to hang with the best - at least for two periods. Thursday's game was close, but not close enough, as the visitors took the victory by way of a 3-2 final. The Jets opened the scoring on Scheifele's 33rd of the season.
Linemate Kyle Connor picked up the puck from Josh Morrissey and quickly fed his Scheifele, who one-timed it past Mackenzie Blackwood 9:55 into the game. Colorado battled back before the end of the frame, as Jack Drury jammed home his ninth of the year with 2:20 left to play. The goal came on the Avalanche's 11th and final shot of the period.
They led the Jets by four shots, while the clubs battled to a 1-1 draw through 20 minutes of play. The middle stanza didn't provide anything statistically, but both clubs exchanged opportunities as the period wore on. With Jonathan Toews already in the box for a phantom hook, the referees penalized Elias Salomonsson for delay of game when he put the puck over the glass into the souvenir section.