Avalanche Game 26 Recap: Momentum Shift

The Colorado Avalanche's five-game homestand got off to a thrilling start, winning 3-2 over the Anaheim Ducks to finish the season series. One down, four to go, and the next team to enter Ball Arena was the Winnipeg Jets--the first meeting of the season between the division foes. As an Avs fan, I have been focused on the Dallas Stars, but I have not forgotten about the Jets, as they are in the thick of this Central Division race as well. The Jets are coming off a playoff appearance in the previous year; their fifth in their last six years, and their seventh since moving to Winnipeg from Atlanta (where they played for 11 seasons as the Atlanta Thrashers).

The goalie matchup was Alexandar Georgiev vs Connor Hellebuyck, and it was pretty close throughout the first period. Both teams behaved fairly well; the only power play of the opening frame went to the Avalanche, but it was killed off. Both Georgiev and Hellebuyck were pretty much brick walls, and as the period winded down to the final half minute, it really appeared that it would be 0-0 after 20 min. Unfortunately for the Avs, Adam Lowry changed that, as he put one past Georgiev with 2.2 seconds left. You hate to see that if you're on the other side.

So it's 1-0 in favor of Jets 2.0 after one period, and they decide to go from scoring in the final seconds of the first period to scoring in the opening seconds of the second. Guess who? Kyle Connor. His 16th of the season with the assists coming from Nikolaj Ehlers and Josh Morrissey. Avs are down 2-0, but that gets remedied quickly. Again, guess who? Nathan MacKinnon. The roll continues for the Mack Man, and it's a one goal game. However, the Avs would be shorthanded shortly after that goal, but the Jets PP would be killed off. My hopes of the Avs tying this game increased when the team went on PP, but that was shut down. Even worse, Josh Morrissey made it 3-1 later on, and the Avs were really pressing. In the final minute, a strange occurrence, as Joel Kiviranta apparently scored, but it was waived off. Play stopped, and replayed showed that the shot did go in. So it's a one-goal game again.

Avs trailed 3-2 after forty minutes and the team had 20 minutes to at least tie it. A great opportunity came early in the third; a power play that turned into a two-man advantage for almost a minute. Unfortunately, it was all killed off, and from what I saw in the period, the Avs' momentum pretty much shut down. Georgiev was pulled for the extra attacker, but all that did was allow Kyle Connor to put in the empty-netter and ice it for the Jets.

Let's talk about Nathan MacKinnon, shall we? In my story about the Hart Trophy, I mentioned how MacKinnon has been unfairly overlooked when it comes to that prestigious trophy. There were three occasions where he should have won, though, let's face it, awards voters just can't stand the Avalanche. I considered the matter moot when MacKinnon won a more important trophy in 2022, but even so, the fact that a player that good doesn't have a Hart Trophy is just criminal. MacKinnon's currently on a 10-game points streak, and the Avs are currently 8-2-1 when MacKinnon scores a goal. So tell me again how MacKinnon's not Hart Trophy material. I dare you!

The Avalanche's home stand continues on Saturday, as the Philadelphia Flyers will visit Ball Arena. Regarding the season series with the Jets, the Avs will head to Winnipeg later on December 16; the team's only trip to Winnipeg this season.

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