Preview: MacKinnon, Avalanche look for redemption in WPG against Hellebuyck, Jets
Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post
Hellebuyck shutout the Avalanche in Winnipeg on Nov. 7.
It’s an Avalanche game day!
The Avs’ pursuit of the top of the Central Division continues tonight as the Avalanche visit Winnipeg to square off against Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets. This is the third matchup between the two clubs this season, in what should be the most intense matchup between these two teams thus far.
Colorado and Winnipeg split the first two matchups in differing fashions, with the Avs most recently dispersing of the Jets 5-2 on New Year’s Eve in Ball Arena. The Jets were coming off of a game the night before in Nashville against the Predators, which Hellebuyck started. Eric Comrie drew the start in goal in Colorado the following night.
On November 7th, Hellebuyck turned aside 35 shots in a shutout, as a Gabriel Vilardi goal past Alexandar Georgiev only 66 seconds into the contest would be the deciding factor in a 1-0 Jets victory on Winnipeg’s ice.
After the two respectively took home the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy at the 2024 NHL Awards, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor Hellebuyck are once again cementing themselves as the class of their respective positions in 2025. MacKinnon again leads the NHL in points (68), entering Saturday with a seven-point gap over Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (61). At the same time, Hellebuyck has put together one of the most statistically dominant seasons we’ve seen in years thus far.
The Avalanche are once again the latter opponent in a back-to-back set for the Jets, but with Winnipeg hosting the set this time around. Last night, the Jets lost in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings 2-1, with Comrie patrolling the crease. This poises the Avs and Jets to clash with best-on-best between the pipes for the first time this season in a huge “prove-it” matchup for Mackenzie Blackwood.
Let’s get into the preview.
Another big Central Division test against the Winnipeg Jets to wrap up the three-game road trip! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/CxuOl18QjT— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) January 11, 2025
Colorado Avalanche
After a letdown performance in Chicago on Wednesday, a dominant performance in the club’s 6-1 win over the Minnesota Wild Thursday got the Avs back on track with their ascent of the Central Division. Coming into tonight, the Avs still sit in 4th in the division but are hot on the tails of Dallas, Minnesota, and Winnipeg. An Avs win in regulation tonight could see the Avs could leapfrog the Stars and sit one point behind the Stars, albeit Dallas and Minnesota have games in hand on the Avs.
Defenseman Samuel Girard, who missed the contest against the Wild with an undisclosed injury, is set to miss his second consecutive contest tonight. Head Coach Jared Bednar indicated that the Avs will ice the same lineup they did in Minnesota, with Calvin De Haan filling in for Girard.
Mackenzie Blackwood will draw the start for the Avs, in his most important start to date for the club. Blackwood boasts the league’s best save percentage and goals against average since debuting in the Avs crease on December 14th, with a .948 SV% and 1.48 GAA (min. five starts). Hellebuyck has a .926 SV% and 1.99 GAA in that same span.
Mackenzie Blackwood ranks 4th in @NHL in save percentage & has best mark since joining @Avalanche SV% LEADERS.927 Stolarz (TOR).926 Hellebuyck (WPG).921 Kuemper (LAK).920 Blackwood (COL)SV% SINCE DEC. 14.940 Blackwood (COL).934 Samsonov (VGK).934 Kuemper (LAK)— Brendan McNicholas (@bmcnich) January 11, 2025
Blackwood was the goalie of choice for the Avs’ 5-2 routing of the Jets on New Year’s Eve, but this time with Hellebuyck on the other side, the Avs would love to see Blackwood’s absolute A-game shine tonight, with the best the world has to offer to duel him. Nobody expects a .948 to be sustainable over a season, but Hellebuyck has sustained his elite marks throughout, and Blackwood’s overall numbers aren’t far off from Hellebuyck’s. A solid performance from Blackwood is a must tonight as the Avs look to make a statement to the rest of the league.
Projected Lines:
Jonathan Drouin (27) — Nathan MacKinnon (29) — Mikko Rantanen (96)Ross Colton (20) — Casey Mittelstadt (37) — Artturi Lehkonen (62)Joel Kiviranta (94) — Juuso Parssinen (16) — Logan O’Connor (25)Tye Felhaber (48) — Parker Kelly (17) — Jere Innala (22)
Devon Toews (7) — Cale Makar (8)Sam Malinski (70) — Josh Manson (42)Calvin De Haan (44) — Keaton Middleton (67)
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood (39)Trent Miner (50)
Winnipeg Jets
As mentioned, Winnipeg came into tonight’s contest on the second night of a back-to-back after falling in overtime to Los Angeles last night. The Jets have been stalling a bit lately, having dropped four of their last five contests (1-2-2). Still, their 28-12-3 record has them sitting atop the NHL standings, sharing their league-leading 59-point mark with the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals.
Jets Head Coach Scott Arniel told reporters that Winnipeg will use the same lineup as last night against LA. The lone asterisk is Vladislav Namestnikov, who will be a game-time decision after blocking a shot in the third period.
With Eric Comrie starting last night, Connor Hellebuyck will draw the start for the Jets. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has been unquestionably the best goaltender in the NHL this season, as it’s hard to find an NHL goalie statistic that Hellebuyck doesn’t currently lead. Hellebuyck ranks 1st in wins, save percentage, goals-against average, shutouts, goals saved above expected, and high danger save percentage.
Connor Hellebuyck after 33 starts:Wins: 25 (1st)SV%: .926 (1st)GAA: 2.08 (1st)SO: 5 (1st)GSAx/60: 0.84 (1st)High Danger SV%: .858 (1st)*GSAx & HD SV% is ranked among goalies that played min 20 GP. (H/T @NatStatTrick)#NHLJets— Jacob Stoller (@JLStoller) January 8, 2025
Despite being on a back-to-back, the Jets are an outstanding hockey team that possesses the greatest goaltender in the world. Hellebuyck can singlehandedly win this game for the Jets (much like he did against the Avs back on November 7th), but they also possess the scoring talent to bury teams that don’t bring their best games. There’ll be a lot of onus on Colorado, especially the star trio, to test Hellebuyck often.
Projected Lines:
Kyle Connor (81) — Mark Scheifele (55) — Gabriel Vilardi (13)Nikolaj Ehlers (27) — Vladislav Namestnikov (7)* — Cole Perfetti (91)Nino Niederreiter (62) — Adam Lowry (17) — Alex Iafallo (9)Morgan Barron (36) — David Gustafsson (19) — Rasmus Kupari (15)
Josh Morrissey (44) — Dylan DeMelo (2)Dylan Samberg (54) — Neal Pionk (4)Logan Stanley (64) — Dylan Coghlan (52)
Goaltenders
Connor Hellebuyck (37)Eric Comrie (1)...
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