With identical records, point totals, and the potential to meet the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, the Colorado Avalanche look to secure home-ice advantage. The Avalanche maintain a 30–8–1 record at home, the best record in the NHL, but proved home ice isn’t always best.
First period
Generating offense proved to be a tremendous struggle for the Avalanche against the Jets in their matinee game. It certainly doesn’t help when the first team to score five minutes into the game isn’t yours.
Sean Monahan was the first to light the lamp at Ball Arena with a slap shot. Nikolaj Ehlers assisted him (34) and Neal Pionk (26).
First goal of the afternoon! ☀️ pic.twitter.com/92Q61SyaPI
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024
Almost thirteen minutes into the period, Nathan MacKinnon pulled a two-minute penalty for hooking. At this time, the Avalanche still hadn’t recorded any sort of shot on goal.
Seconds later, Gabriel Vilardi put one past the right side of Avalanche goaltender, Alexandar Georgiev. Kyle Connor assisted Vilardi (26) and Josh Morrissey (56).
Vilardi to Scheifele to Morrissey to Connor to Vilardi 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7TtsLXlzvu
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024
Sean Walker pulled a slashing penalty, allowing the Jets to score another goal. Only four seconds into the penalty, Morrissey snuck the puck in from the blue line. Monahan received credit for the assist.
Two minutes of power play time.
We'll only need three seconds, keep the change 🤑 pic.twitter.com/aPtYf0EoYB
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024
To round out the first period, Adam Lowry acquired his 11th of the season with passes from David Gustafsson (3) and Dylan DeMelo (28). Justus Annunen replaced Georgiev in net.
Two Goals. Ten Seconds.
Four Goals. Fifteen minutes.
🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ZgTKljXl4O
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024
The Avalanche left the first period down 4–0 with only five shots on goal, compared to Winnipeg’s 16.
Second period
Looking to add some sort of momentum to the Avalanche’s play, Ross Colton pulled a roughing penalty.
The Jets headed to the power play once more and Tyler Toffoli makes it 5–0 with an assist from Connor.
Tyler Scoreffoli 🚨 pic.twitter.com/FrOdInRMCN
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024
During this time, Avalanche defenseman, Sam Girard, left the game with an upper-body injury. Following the game, Girard entered concussion protocol.
Four minutes later, Monahan lit the lamp for the second time. Morrissey notched his 57th assist of the season.
Lowry scored the last goal of the game with 3:27 left in the second period.
Sean Monahan has 13 goals as a Jet, and 26 goals total this season 🚨 pic.twitter.com/3xCjs9oxeQ
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 13, 2024
Third period
The Avalanche still aren’t able to generate any sort of goal-scoring offense. However, in the third period, neither were the Jets.
But that mattered little, given the score was 7–0.
The Colorado Avalanche finished the game by outshooting the Jets 30–26, most of their shots generated in the third.
Takeaways
The Colorado Avalanche will more than likely face off against the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After today’s match, the Jets will be granted home-ice advantage.
Tomorrow, the Avalanche will visit the Vegas Golden Knights at 1:30 p.m. To end the regular season, Colorado will play the Edmonton Oilers at Ball Arena on Thursday night at 7:30.