Avalanche Game 44 at Winnipeg Jets: Hellebuyck vs Blackwood, Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Colorado Avalanche (26-16-1) are set to face another top Central Division team on the road, taking on the Winnipeg Jets (28-12-3). Puck drop is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. MT.

READ MORE: Flynn’s Take: State of the Avs Midseason Report (+)

The Avalanche are coming off a spectacular performance against a severely injured Minnesota Wild. They defeated them 6-1, scoring three times in the final period, which allowed several of their top stars to rest in preparation for the Jets. Colorado is 1-1-0 against Winnipeg this year with the home team winning each of the first two games.

In the early November matchup, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head, helping his team capture a 1-0 shutout victory. In the rematch on New Years Eve, Mackenzie Blackwood was solid for the Avs, who came away with a 5-2 triumph. Both goalies have been great with their respective clubs this season and are set to face each other for the first time.

The Avs trail Winnipeg by six points in the standings and face them again on Jan. 22 following this meeting. They’ll be without Samuel Girard for the second straight game. Girard was a late scratch against Minnesota and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Without him, Calvin de Haan slotted in on the second pair alongside Josh Manson and will play there again tonight.

READ MORE: Blackwood’s First Month in Colorado; Marchand is Not Happy; How is Montreal Doing This?

The Jets aren’t dealing with many injuries albeit they haven’t been as consistent with their play as they were earlier in the regular season. Their most notable injury is depth forward Mason Appleton.

Winnipeg is 5-3-2 in its last 10 games and has fallen closer to the pack after an early 13-1-0 start. While Hellebuyck has been far and away the team MVP, the Jets are also relying on their top line to carry the load offensively. Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabe Vilardi are all on pace to have career seasons.

Hellebuyck is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and is making a case to win it again. He is 25-6-2 with a whopping five shutouts, a league-best 2.08 goals-against average, and is second in save percentage (.927). Blackwood (.920) is in fourth.

READ MORE: Capping off a Successful First Month With Mackenzie Blackwood

Season Series

• Nov. 7 at Winnipeg Jets (L, 1-0)
• Dec. 31 vs Winnipeg Jets (W, 5-2)
• Jan. 11 at Winnipeg Jets
• Jan. 22 vs Winnipeg Jets

Avalanche Injuries

• Samuel Girard (upper body, day-to-day)
• Scott Wedgewood (lower body, week-to-week)
• Valeri Nichushkin (lower body, day-to-day)
• Ivan Ivan (upper body, week-to-week)
• Oliver Kylington (upper body, IR)
• Miles Wood (upper body, LTIR)
• Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no timetable)

Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)

Jonathan Drouin — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Ross Colton — Juuso Parssinen — Artturi Lehkonen
Joel Kiviranta – Casey Mittelstadt – Logan O’Connor
Tye Felhaber — Parker Kelly — Jere Innala

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Calvin de Haan — Josh Manson
Keaton Middleton — Sam Malinski

Mackenzie Blackwood
Trent Miner

Projected Starters (subject to change)

• Confirmed: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
• Confirmed: Connor Hellebuyck (WPG)

Upcoming Milestones

• Jonathan Drouin — needs 1 goal for 100
• Nathan MacKinnon — needs 4 PPG for 100
• Devon Toews — needs 3 assists for 200
• Ross Colton — needs 4 games for 300
• Logan O’Connor — needs 6 points for 100