The Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets met for the first time this season on Friday night. Not only was it Division Rivalry Night, one of the best goaltenders in the NHL was coming with the Jets. It was not a pretty win, but the Avalanche pulled a 3–2 win out of it. Great defense by both the forward core and the defensive core helped in the victory, especially the bottom-six. But Josh Manson provided the spark for the entire team and was all over the ice on Friday, helping the Avalanche.

View From the Mountaintop

Connor Hellebuyck made a tremendous difference in the game for the Jets. Despite missing 12 games with a knee injury, Hellebuyck looked like his old self. He has already logged three games since his return, but Hellebuyck looks like he has not missed a beat. Mackenzie Blackwood has shown us it can take some time to come back from injury, so it is shocking that he was moving so well. Hellebuyck’s absence could have resulted in a higher score. Yet, the Avs grew annoyed at the quickness of his movements to the post. The Avs overcame him via deflection twice during the second and third scores of the evening.

Defenseman Josh Manson had himself a great game on Friday night. During the second period, the Jets were exiting their own zone and Manson laid out Cole Perfettito slow down the play. Right after the hit, Tanner Pearson came up to Manson, and a fight erupted right away. Manson did not contribute only with his fists on Friday; he added to the scoresheet with a pair of assists. Manson had the initial shot that was tipped by both Valeri Nichushkin and Parker Kelly in the third for a goal.


Despite their win, the special teams struggled throughout the match. Once again, the power play unit failed to convert when given the chance. They actually gave up a shorthanded goal to Morgan Barron. Without the puck’s glass deflection, Barron’s run wouldn’t have been so impressive. The Avs were 0-for-3 tonight on the power play. The penalty killers also gave up a goal, making the end of the game a lot closer than it needed to be.

Up Next

The Avalanche will travel to Minnesota to take on the Wild on Sunday at 4 p.m. MT. Altitude Sports will broadcast the game.