NHL

NHL Preview: Colorado Avalanche versus Winnipeg Jets

On Friday, November 9th, the Colorado Avalanche will face off against the Winnipeg Jets for the first of five meetings scheduled this season. Both teams are currently tied in the Central division with 17 points. Both teams were playoff contenders last season, and have high hopes and goals for this season as well. Each team has fared relatively well in the first 15 games of the 2018-2019 season.

Friday’s matchup will be the first time that the Jets have played in a week. The team split two exhibition games against the Florida Panthers in Helsinki, Finland. They are back in North America and ready to play hockey. The Avalanche are coming off a brutal, and controversial loss to the Central division leading Nashville Predators, 4-1, on Wednesday Night Hockey. Two goals were called back due to offsides after the Predators coach, Peter Laviolette challenged, and subsequently won each challenge.

Avalanche Look to Win for the first time in the Month of November

It’s been a while since the Colorado Avalanche last won a game. In fact, they have lost 4 in a row after starting the season 7-3-1 and haven’t won a game in November yet. The last victory for the Avs came on October 26th, against former star, Matt Duchene and the Ottawa Senators. Since that 6-3 win nearly two weeks ago, the team embarked on road games at Minnesota, Calgary, and Vancouver, with overtime losses to the Flames and Canucks. The Avs had a great time in Canada recently, and each game on the three game road trip was competitive, which is encouraging. Also on the positive side for the Avs, is the return of Tyson Jost, who will add depth to the third line where points have been sparingly few, and far between.

Winnipeg Jets “recover” After Finland Trip

The Winnipeg Jets spent most of the week off from hockey “recovering” from their trip to Helsinki, Finland. According to Jets d-man Jacod Trouba, it will take at least a shift or two to get back up to “game speed,” which is to be expected after a week off from playing a game.

Jets star, Patrik Laine also had some great things to say about fellow Finnish star, Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen currently leads the league in points scored with 24 (5 G, 19 A).

The puck drops at 6:00 P.M. MST and will surely be entertaining. Right now, the odds are in favor of the Jets (-175) and the over/under for the game is 6 goals. If the Avalanche continue their current trend of allowing more than 50 attempts on goal, their losing streak will undoubtedly continue to 5.

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Photo Credit

Photo Courtesy of Winnipeg Free Press