Depth and discipline keys to Avalanche 6-2 Game 3 win over the Winnipeg Jets

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The pressure is higher playing in front of the home crowd, but it was used as fuel for the Colorado Avalanche. Six different players contributed to the scoresheet in the 6-2 over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Avs Faithful audibly showed support to starting goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the start of the game. Multiple chants of “Georgie” rang out from the crowd and the building erupted when he made his first save.

Zach Parise opened the scoring and got the Avs on the board first with a shot off a rebound to beat Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Josh Manson and Casey Mittelstadt assisted on Parise’s second goal of the playoffs.

The Avs had 10 shots on goal in the first period — five of those came from the second line.

“You get more comfortable as you keep playing and eventually those things take over and especially in a big game like that you got to go out there and just play — it’s do or die,” Mittelstadt said after the win. “Lehky (Artturi Lehkonen) and Zach (Parise) had huge games and they were feeding me the puck all over so a lot of credit to them.”

Tyler Toffoli grabbed a rebound and backhanded it from the side past Alexandar Georgiev to tie the game 1-1 five minutes into the second period.

The first penalty was called on Mittelstadt for hooking midway through the game. It was the only penalty the Avs took for the first two periods, but the Jets capitalized on the extra-man advantage with a power-play goal from Josh Morrissey at 9:10 in the second.

“Yeah, I mean, that’s the goal is keep, you know, check with your feet. Yeah, so definitely don’t want to give that power play. I know they got one, so I’m glad it was just one,” Nathan MacKinnon said.

The Jets worked hard to keep the puck away but the Avalanche’s forechecking was on point and reduced scoring chances for their opponent.

“I think the chances they were getting early, it was a lot of them off the rush … I think we can still do a better job managing the puck in their zone because as soon as we take a shot and there’s a loose puck, they’re getting [it] and they’re gone. So, I think we can tighten that up,” Jets head coach Rick Bowness said. “That’s an area we’ll look at, and clearly the discipline in the third period and the penalty kill just took us out of the game.”

Devon Toews suffered a stick to the face from Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi which resulted in a copious amount of blood on the ice. MacKinnon’s only goal of the game came not even a minute into the four-minute double minor at 17:49 in the third period.

“Tough to keep guys out of the lineup and off the ice this time of year. The further you go, the more games you play this time of the year with the intensity and physicality of the game. Everyone’s going to be dealing with something, but they also know how important it is and it’s win or go home,” head coach Jared Bednar said about Toews’ warrior mentality. “It doesn’t surprise me that he came back, that’s what we’ve come to expect from hockey players. That’s scary when you see (a) guy go down and stay down and there’s blood all over the ice, you know, you never want to see it. But yeah, getting him back there a couple of minutes later, quicker than I thought he’d be back actually — and makes an impact right away.”

Colorado scored five goals in the final frame. Along with MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, Lehkonen, Ross Colton and Toews (empty-netter) found the back of the net to seal the win.

The teams have a quick turnaround with a 12:30 p.m. MT puck drop scheduled for Sunday but it’s an even playing field with an equal amount of time off. The Avalanche will look to keep rolling and continue the momentum they gained in the Game 3 win.

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