To make use of a time period from AIH member Padre, the Winnipeg Jets (27-10-1) performed a “affected person” recreation yesterday in opposition to the Nashville Predators and a late 5 on 3 man-advantage supplied all of the spark vital to select up a few factors. Nicely, that and one other stellar outing by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (2.00 GAA/.930% on the season), who blanked the Preds on path to his fifth shutout of the season. The True Northers then needed to instantly hop on a airplane as a way to make their subsequent contest in Denver.
The Colorado Avalanche (22-15-0) however shall be effectively rested for in the present day’s assembly, since they haven’t performed since choosing up a 4-1 win over Utah on Dec twenty seventh. The Avs are playing exhausting on newly acquired goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (1.82 GAA/.940% in 5 begins w/ COL) being their long-term resolution in web, as administration has already prolonged his contract for an additional 5 seasons.
The New Yr’s Eve conflict between the Central Division rivals will symbolize their 2nd assembly of the season, with the Jets choosing up a 1-0 win within the Peg on the again of a primary minute purpose by Gabriel Vilardi and a 35 save shutout by Hellebuyck.
Winnipeg’s medical employees proceed to stay busy, with them serving to Dylan Samberg, Haydn Fleury, and now Mason Appleton get well from accidents. The Jets have indicated that Appleton is taken into account “week-to-week” by the teaching employees and this can give coach Scott Arniel the prospect to attempt some new choices on the best wing of the third line. Sadly it wasn’t a rookie like Brad Lambert or Nikita Chibrikov that acquired the preliminary name up from the Moose, as veteran Dominic Toninato shall be becoming a member of the staff in Colorado. The Jets shall be returning to Manitoba after this recreation to begin a season-long 8 recreation residence stand on January 2nd, so perhaps the house cooking will assist everybody heal up.
Colorado has some harm woes of their very own, clearly beginning with the long-term harm to star Gabriel Landeskog. Different gamers which might be banged up embrace Miles Wooden, Ivan Ivan, & Oliver Kylington, nevertheless the staff obtained a break with the information that Jonathan Drouin shall be returning to the beginning lineup. Right here is how PuckPedia is presently projecting the teaching staffs’ to line up their gamers:
Solely the Vegas Golden Knights’ present 6 recreation successful streak is longer than the Jets’ & Avalanche’s 4 recreation heater…..so each franchises are enjoying good hockey presently. Regardless of that, I can’t assist remembering how badly Winnipeg has performed within the closing video games of back-to-back conditions this 12 months, so my optimism isn’t very excessive as I await the 7 pm Central puck drop.
The Winnipeg Jets are sitting within the 1st place within the NHL coming into the match, whereas the Colorado Avalanche have the eleventh finest file within the league. Each squads have prime 10 offenses this 12 months, however solely the Jets can declare that defensively (Avs have given up the eighth most objectives in opposition to).
Listed below are the offensive stars for every squad at this level of the season:
Winnipeg Jets: Kyle Connor (51 pts), Mark Scheifele (44), Gabriel Vilardi (34), Josh Morrissey (34), Nikolaj Ehlers (32), Neal Pionk (26), Cole Perfetti (23), & Adam Lowry (21).
Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon (60 pts), Mikko Rantanen (53), Cale Makar (45), & Casey Mittelstadt (23).
Time to check out the stats….right here is how the 2 squads look head-to-head primarily based on this 12 months’s numbers and a assessment of the goalies by way of ESPN:
Trying on the data above, I see that each Winnipeg & Colorado can rating objectives, have harmful powerplays, and kill penalties at across the similar charge. The largest distinction is within the objectives allowed class, nevertheless the Avalanche’s acquisitions of Mackenzie Blackwood & Scott Wedgewood could have levelled that out fairly a bit.
Alright, obtained to get this text up & stay to provide any AIH members the chance to show this web site’s implausible powers by urging on the Jets with some superb predictions. Glad New Years everybody!! Have loads of enjoyable tonight…hopefully the True Northers give us much more purpose to rejoice.
Go Winnipeg!!!
