Avalanche vs. Jets, Game 30: Lines, Starting Goalies & How To Watch

In a huge Central Division matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche, Jared Bednar is making a bit of a statement.

Ivan Prosvetov, not Alexandar Georgiev, will be starting in net for the Avalanche against the Jets. The 24 year old Russian played well in relief on Monday, and won the game on Wednesday, so Bednar turning to him again. Georgiev will almost certainly start tomorrow against the Sharks, but it’s a bit of a statement to start Prosvetov against a team battling Colorado for first place.

With the move of Tomas Tatar on Friday, Ben Meyers will get an opportunity to move up the lineup. He’s expected to play with Ryan Johansen and Jonathan Drouin, adding some speed to that line.

Both Cale Makar and Josh Manson are expected to play. If either can’t go, Caleb Jones will step in.

The Jets will turn to their elite goaltender against the Avalanche. Hellebuyck is one of the few workhorse goaltenders left in the league, so it makes sense to ride him. The Avalanche will catch a bit of a break, though.

Kyle Connor, the Jets best forward, will not play against the Avalanche. He was taken out by a knee-on-knee hit from Ryan Strome and will miss 6-8 weeks. I’m surprised Strome wasn’t suspended, but I guess I shouldn’t be with the way the Department of Player safety works.

The winner of this game will take over first place in the Central Division.

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines

Valeri Nichushkin – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen

Ben Meyers – Ryan Johansen – Jonathan Drouin

Miles Wood – Ross Colton – Logan O’Connor

Andrew Cogliano – Fredrik Olofsson – Joel Kiviranta

Defense

Devon Toews – Cale Makar

Bowen Byram –  Josh Manson

Jack Johnson – Sam Malinski

Goalies

Ivan Prosvetov

Expected Winnipeg Jets Lineup

Ehlers – Scheifele – Vilardi

Perfetti – Namestnikov – Iafallo

Niederreiter – Lowry – Appleton

Barron – Gustafsson – Jonsson-Fjallby

Defense:

Morrisey – Demelo

Dillon – Pionk

Samberg – Schmidt

Goalies:

Connor Hellebuyck

Special Teams

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 19.3%, 18th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 85.9%, 6th in NHL

Winnipeg Jets Power Play: 16.3%, 24th in NHL

Winnipeg Jets Penalty Kill: 75.3%, 27th in NHL

How to Watch

TV: Altitude TV 2, ESPN+

Radio: 950 AM

Game Time: 5:00 PM MST