Game 25: Avalanche 3 Jets 2 in OT post-game report

Recap:

It was a fast opening 20 minutes of play in Denver.  Both teams were not as their best but the Jets got things started when Mark Scheifele took an extended shift, set up Josh Morrissey who took a shot from the point which beat Semyon Varlamov who was being screened by Andrew Copp.  About five minutes later on the power play the Avs tied things up when Alexander Kerfoot tied things up at 1-1.

The 2nd period wasn’t particularly exciting.  Started off with a series of icings and then each team proceeded to take penalty after penalty after penalty.  Sadly the only call not made was the illegal curve.  Score remain knotted at one after 40 minutes with the Jets taking the shot lead 20-19.

The final frame was a bit chaotic to start.  Bryan Little made a big defensive play when the Avs had a wide open net for a tap in goal and he disrupted the opportunity.  Moments later Nikolaj Ehlers got the legs going 4 on 4, passed the puck to himself off the boards around the Avs defender and got the puck on Varlamov.  Little was in front and took a shot at the loose puck which squeaked under the Avs netminder and gave Winnipeg a 2-1 lead.  As a Jets power play concluded Nikita Zadorov skated into the Jets zone and tied things up with a shot that Connor Hellebuyck would likely want back (then again what goalie doesn’t want every goal they allow back).  The Jets took a too many men penalty to conclude the 3rd period with 7.2 seconds to go.

Sixty minutes would solve nothing and overtime was required for this contest.  The Avs scored on the man advantage but the play was challenged and the goal was overturned.  It didn’t matter however as the Avs scored once again and won the game 3-2.

The Jets are now 15-6-4 on the season which has them second in the Western Conference, one point back of the Blues for 1st in the central.  Connor Hellebuyck is now 13-2-3 on the season.

For those who would like to take a deeper dive into the advanced stats here are the results from tonight’s game via Natural Stat Trick.

Notable:

– In 25 games Josh Morrissey has three goals on the season which is half his total of six from last year in 82 games;
– Mark Scheifele picked up his 17th assist of season (which alone would tie him for fourth on team in points);
– Bryan Little had quite the shift in 3rd period.  Save a goal and then scored go ahead goal.  His eighth point in last nine games;
– Nikolaj Ehlers also has eight points (2G 6A) in the last nine games.

Audio:

Josh Morrissey

Nikolaj Ehlers

Bryan Little

Coach Maurice:  On getting a single point out of the game.  Different Colorado team.  Playing with the lead.  On the first goal when Hellebuyck lost his helmet.  Moving Perreault up to the 2nd line.

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg