Game Three between the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets is set to go for a Friday night showdown at Ball Arena. With the series tied at one game apiece, Colorado now has the home-ice advantage, with three of the remaining five games of the series on home ice.
It’s the first time the Avs haven’t had a home-ice advantage since 2019, but they entered Game Three then against the Calgary Flames in a similar scenario – tied at one after winning Game Two. The Avs won the next three games to win the series and look to complete a similar feat starting tonight.
Colorado Avalanche (1-1-0)
The Avs have figured out Connor Hellebuyck. He’s now given up 10 goals in two games, more than Alexandar Georgiev. The most recent performance saw the Avs goaltender let up only two in a 5-2 win over the Jets.
Georgiev’s great goaltending performance seemed to have redeemed him after his Game One blunders. He will get the nod in this game, even with the return of Justus Annunen to the bench after illness. We still have to wait and see if Sam Girard makes his first appearance of the postseason, or if Caleb Jones stays in the lineup.
Regardless, Georgiev needs the help in front of him once again, and the entire team as a whole does better on home ice. They have the best home record, and with Nathan MacKinnon recording a point in all but two home games, he’ll be looking for a monster performance in front of Avs faithful.
Projected Lines
Artturi Lehkonen (62) – Nathan MacKinnon (29) – Mikko Rantanen (96)
Zach Parise (9) – Casey Mittelstadt (37) – Valeri Nichushkin (13)
Miles Wood (28) – Ross Colton (20) – Joel Kiviranta (94)
Andrew Cogliano (11) – Yakov Trenin (73) – Brandon Duhaime (12)
Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)
Sam Girard (49) – Josh Manson (42)
Jack Johnson (3) – Sean Walker (26)
Alexandar Georgiev (40)
Winnipeg Jets (1-1-0)
Winnipeg might be concerned about being beaten out by the Avalanche’s depth in Game Two. They also might be concerned about Hellebuyck and his recent performances, especially with the transition of the series to Denver.
Hence, they will be making one change in the lineup, with Nate Schmidt entering the lineup for Logan Staley. This might help their defensive depth as they go up against one of the hottest-scoring teams on home ice.
Can they withstand the pressure of being in the Mile High City on their heels in this series? Or will Winnipeg be a sitting duck waiting to be taken over by an Avalanche?
Projected Lines
Kyle Connor (81) – Mark Schiefele (55) – Gabriel Vilardi (13)
Nikolaj Ehlers (26) – Sean Monahan (23) – Tyler Toffoli (73)
Nino Neiderreiter (62) – Adam Lowry (17) – Mason Appleton (22)
David Gustafsson (19) – Vladislav Namestnikov (7) – Alex Iafallo (9)
Josh Morrissey (44) – Dylan DeMelo (2)
Brenden Dillon (5) – Neal Pionk (4)
Dylan Samberg (54) – Nate Schmidt (88)
Connor Hellebuyck (37)
Broadcast Details
Time: 8:00 p.m. MT
Watch: TNT, TruTV, Max, CBC, TVAS, Altitude
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio FM 92.5
Opponent’s Beat: Arctic Ice Hockey