Tonight, the Avalanche go to Winnipeg to play Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets, continuing the Avs’ quest for the top spot in the Central Division. It should be the most intense encounter between these two teams to date. This is the third meeting between the two clubs this season.
The first two meetings between Colorado and Winnipeg were split in different ways; the Avs most recently defeated the Jets 5-2 on New Year’s Eve at Ball Arena. Hellebuyck had begun the Jets’ game against the Predators the previous evening in Nashville. The next night in Colorado, Eric Comrie received the start in goal.
Hellebuyck stopped 35 shots in a shutout on November 7th, as the Jets defeated Winnipeg 1-0 on the ice thanks to a goal from Gabriel Vilardi that went past Alexandar Georgiev just 66 seconds into the game.
Nathan MacKinnon and Connor Hellebuyck are reaffirming their status as the class of their respective positions in 2025 after winning the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy at the 2024 NHL Awards, respectively. With seven points ahead of Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (61) going into Saturday, MacKinnon is once again leading the NHL in points (68). In addition, Hellebuyck has assembled one of the most statistically dominant seasons in recent memory.
In a back-to-back set for the Jets, the Avalanche are the latter opponent once more; however, this time, Winnipeg will host the match. Comrie patrolled the crease during the Jets’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings last night. In a crucial “prove-it” game for Mackenzie Blackwood, the Avs and Jets will now face off against each other for the first time this season.