Avalanche Game 14 at Winnipeg Jets, Makar a Game-Time Decision, Lines, Notes, & How to Watch

The Colorado Avalanche (6-7-0) are back on the road to take on the NHL’s best Winnipeg Jets (12-1-0) in their first clash since last season’s first-round playoff matchup. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT.

The Avs got Artturi Lehkonen back on Tuesday and responded in a huge way. Lehkonen had a goal and an assist while his linemates both had great performances. Mikko Rantanen scored twice, his first time finding the back of the net in nine games. And Nathan MacKinnon had the first five-assist game for an Av in 21 years. MacKinnon leads the NHL with 25 points.

Unfortunately for Jared Bednar’s club, defenseman Cale Makar left the game with a lower-body injury after recording two assists to keep his season-opening point streak alive. Makar took part in Thursday’s morning skate on the top power-play unit and Bednar said afterward that he’ll be a game-time decision. If Makar is unable to play, his 13-game point streak effectively ends. But it’s a good sign either way that he’s still possibly a player.

Colorado is going to start Alexandar Georgiev in goal. Despite his early-season struggles, Georgiev will get a big opportunity to turn his season around against the team he eliminated in five games last spring. Georgiev won four straight after struggling in the series opener.

The Jets are riding a historic start to their season. Through 13 games, their only loss has come against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last year’s Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck has picked up right where he left off with an excellent start to the regular season and their scoring has been coming from everywhere. Kyle Connor leads the way with nine goals and 19 points in 13 games but they have 10 skaters with 10 or more points. Two defensemen, Neal Pionk and Josh Morrissey, are both producing a point per game or better

Winnipeg is expected to come out firing tonight after feeling embarrassed in the playoffs by Colorado.

READ MORE: What Makes Casey Mittelstadt a Unique Player (+)

ALSO: Artturi Lehkonen Makes Instant Impact

Season Series

• Nov. 7 at Winnipeg Jets
• Dec. 31 vs Winnipeg Jets
• Jan. 11 at Winnipeg Jets
• Jan. 22 vs Winnipeg Jets

Avalanche Injuries

• Miles Wood (upper body, IR)
• Ross Colton (foot, 6-8 weeks)
• Jonathan Drouin (upper body, day-to-day)
• Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no timetable)
• Valeri Nichushkin (suspended, expected back Nov. 15)

Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Joel Kiviranta— Casey Mittelstadt — Logan O’Connor
Ivan Ivan – Parker Kelly – Nikolai Kovalenko
Nikita Prishchepov — Chris Wagner — T.J. Tynan

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Calvin de Haan — Sam Malinski

Alexandar Georgiev
Justus Annunen

Projected Starters (subject to change)

• Confirmed: Alexandar Georgiev (COL)
• Confirmed: Connor Hellebuyck (WPG)

Upcoming Milestones

• Mikko Rantanen – needs 4 power-play goals for 100
• Nathan MacKinnon — needs 5 power-play goals for 100
• Devon Toews — needs 6 assists for 200
• Cale Makar — needs 9 goals for 100
• Josh Manson — needs 9 games for 600

How to Watch