Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) looks back as Colorado Avalanche's J.T. CompherÕs (37) shot goes in during first period NHL action in Winnipeg, Friday, February 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
WINNIPEG – The Colorado Avalanche scored four goals on their first five shots en route to a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday that extended their win streak to four games.
Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Compher each had a goal and assist.
Bowen Byram and Matt Nieto also scored for the Avalanche (32-19-5), who are 5-0-1 in their past six games and 12-2-2 in their last 16.
Alexander Georgiev made 26 saves for Colorado, which has also won four straight on the road.
Mason Appleton had the goal for the Jets (35-23-1), who are 1-4-0 in their past five games.
Connor Hellebuyck stopped 21 of the 26 shots he faced in Winnipeg’s first game of a three-game homestand at Canada Life Centre before he was replaced by David Rittich to start the third. Rittich made 10 saves.
The Avalanche led 4-1 after the first period and 5-1 following the second.
MacKinnon started Colorado’s scoring barrage 19 seconds into the opening period when he registered his 20th goal of the season on a breakaway.
His goal marked the fastest game-opening goal by the Avalanche since he scored 11 seconds into an Oct. 13, 2018, contest.
Winnipeg tied it at 3:12 on the power play after Appleton tipped in a Nate Schmidt blast from the point.
Rantanen made it 2-1 just 80 seconds later with his 37th of the season.
He was followed by Compher three minutes later and Byram bumped it to 4-1 at 10:58.
The Jets had their second power play in the final two minutes of the period, but didn’t get a shot on net. They were outshot 11-6 in the period.
Winnipeg changed its defensive pairings to start the second, but Nieto went to the front of the net and tapped in a pass from Compher to make it 5-1 at 10:59.
Jets centre Pierre-Luc Dubois was then sent to the penalty box for four minutes for cross-checking and unsportsmanlike conduct. A Colorado penalty shortened their advantage by a minute.
After Rittich entered the game for the final period, Winnipeg went on its fourth power play three minutes in but couldn’t capitalize.
The Jets had another man advantage midway through the period, but only mustered one shot on goal.
Colorado was 0-for-3 on the power play and Winnipeg went 1-for-5.
PILING UP POINTS
Some Avalanche are racking up impressive point streaks.
MacKinnon has 14 points in a six-game point run, including six goals. Compher has eight points in three straight games (two goals, six assists).
UP NEXT
Jets: Host the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon.
Avalanche: Fly home to take on the Calgary Flames Saturday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2023.
