Jets at Avalanche Under 6
It’s easy to think offense with the Jets, who rank fifth in goals scored. But Winnipeg also has a top-eight defense and a hot goalie in Connor Hellebuyck. He is 5-0-1 in his last six starts and was named NHL first star of the week on Monday after compiling a .952 save percentage and 1.67 goals against average mark. Hellebuyck has a strong history, too, versus Colorado with a 1.76 GAA and .927 save percentage in four games.
Winnipeg just shut out Edmonton, 5-0, on the road two days ago.
The Jets have a defensive shutdown pair in Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey. They stopped Connor McDavid and they can hold Nathan MacKinnon in check. The Jets’ defense will get an added boost, too, if star defenseman Dustin Byfuglien returns here as expected. He’s missed the last 10 games with a lower-body injury.
Colorado is a much improved team. The Avalanche just held the Islanders, the No. 3 goal scoring team in the league, to one goal this past Sunday. The Avalanche rank third in penalty killing and are on a streak of 33 consecutive power plays they have stopped. The last time the Avalanche surrendered a man-advantage goal at home was Dec. 1.
Colorado has a hot goalie, too. Semyon Varlamov has a .922 save percentage in his last five games. He won’t have to worry about Mark Scheifele, one of the top point producers in the NHL, who is sidelined with an upper body injury.
(Editor’s note: If you’re interested in my daily sports plays please email me. I opened 2018 in style going 2-0 winning with Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl and with the Under in the Sabres-Rangers NHL matchup.)
