Avalanche Game 34 vs Winnipeg Jets: Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche (24-2-7) are back at home to take on their Central Division rival, the Winnipeg Jets (15-16-2). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. MT.

READ MORE: Report: Mackenzie Blackwood Being Considered for Team Canada

Key Stories to Watch

• This is the first of four meetings this season between the two clubs. The Winnipeg Jets have struggled in the post-Nikolaj Ehlers era. They enter this matchup a game below .500 after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season.
• The last time Colorado played Winnipeg was Mikko Rantanen’s last game before getting traded. The Avalanche had just wrapped up an abysmal six-game homestand with an OT loss to the Jets. The leadership core had no answers after the game. Rantanen was suddenly shipped away two days later.
• Connor Hellebuyck, who missed four weeks with an injury, returned last weekend. He won his first game back but is 0-1-1 since. Still, Hellebuyck’s underlying numbers are among the best in the league. He has a 9-7-1 record and a .918 save percentage. The Jets have given up just five goals since his return, but have just one victory to show for it.
• Hellebuyck gets the nod for Winnipeg against Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood.
• The Avs are rolling with the same lineup they’ve used the last few games. Ross Colton remains at center between Gavin Brindley and Victor Olofsson. Jared Bednar said on Thursday that he’d like to see Olofsson generate more offensively, and would like to give that line time to build chemistry.

Season Series

• Dec. 19 vs Winnipeg Jets
• March 14 at Winnipeg Jets
• March 26 at Winnipeg Jets
• March 28 vs Winnipeg Jets

Avalanche Injuries

• Logan O’Connor (undisclosed, TBD)

READ MORE: Avalanche Mailbag 3.0: Fixing the PP, Central Division Strength, Facing Dallas Again, & More

Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Victor Olofsson — Ross Colton — Gavin Brindley
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Samuel Girard — Sam Malinski

Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Projected Starters (Subject to Change)

• Confirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
• Confirmed: Connor Hellebuyck (WPG)

Upcoming Milestones

• Brock Nelson — needs 5 assists for 300
• Nathan MacKinnon — needs 5 goals for 400

How to Watch

• TV: Altitude TV, KTVD My20
• Radio: 92.5 FM