Hot off of a 5–1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres and on a two game win streak, it was safe to say the Avalanche looked good going into one of the most important games this season. But, without defensive powerhouse Cale Makar, it was going to be a difficult contest for the first place spot in the Central Division.
In the history between the two teams, the Avalanche come out on top with a 28-21-1-6 record, but Colorado has struggled in the recent matchups. With a 6–2 loss to the Jets tonight, the Avalanche is now 0–2–0 against them for the season.
First period
The first period looked clean off the bat, both teams only finding six shots on goal in the first frame. Winnipeg found their first opportunity almost 14 minutes into the first frame, bringing the score to 1–0.
His first goal at @CanadaLifeCtr 🤩
GABRIEL VILARDI!!! pic.twitter.com/npeHHS57Nl
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) December 17, 2023
While Josh Manson sat in the box for delay of game, the Jets could bring the score to 2–0. Though given a power play advantage, the team continues to struggle and could not score.
The low number of shots on goal reflected successful defense and offensive effort.
Second period
Colorado has a reputation to gear up after a mediocre first period, but they reflected a lack of energy and inconsistent offensive pressure in the final score.
As the Jets continued to force the Avalanche to work for a victory, they scored their third unanswered goal at 8:43.
A sleepy offensive presence recorded seven attempts to Winnipeg’s nine.
Third period
With 20 minutes still left in the game, it was not too late for Colorado to secure the win. The increased effort was felt with an astounding 19 shots on the goal for the third period, far outshining the Jets’ 10.
The Avalanche received their second chance for a power play 42 seconds into the period. Jonathan Drouin stepped up to finally get them on the board with help from Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon.
The power play goal ⬇️#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/qvtnbJYVOo
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 17, 2023
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Winnipeg answered the goal with two of their own, quickly shutting down any gained momentum and sat comfortably at a 5–1 score.
Jack Johnson scored his second goal of the season at 10:41, assisted by Valeri Nichushkin and MacKinnon, who recorded his second assist of the night.
In a last-ditch effort to close the three-goal gap, Colorado removed Ivan Prosvetov to gain an extra attacker. In the end, it wasn’t enough and an empty net goal for the Jets sealed the game.
Analysis
With such an important game being played, it was surprising the Avalanche did not play to their identity offensively. The team relied heavily on a defensive approach and did not spend enough time in the offensive zone.
The Jets hold an 18–9–2 record and are known to be a very disciplined team with a lot of fight. Despite knowing this, the Avalanche did not adjust to the style of play and ultimately suffered for it.
A constant criticism has been the effectiveness of the power play. Despite having four opportunities, they only managed to cash in on one of them. The Avalanche’s power play percentage for the season is 19.3%, which isn’t enough to consistently change the outcome of a game.
Though the score may not reflect it, Prosvetov performed well and made crucial saves. He has been a dependable option between the pipes.
The Avalanche have a quick turnaround and face the San Jose Sharks at home tomorrow at 6 p.m.
https://youtu.be/3P1-iTts3EM?si=L2HuEF3-F79_XRkz