Wednesday in the NHL features an enticing Central Division matchup, with the Winnipeg Jets heading to Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league each day! In this article, we will preview and predict the matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche. Be sure to check out all of our NHL Predictions throughout the 2024-25 season and follow along with your favourite teams.
NHL Predictions
Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche
Head-to-Head: Jets 2-1 Avalanche
Time: 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: TSN3; ALT; KTVD; ESPN+
Wednesday will be the fourth and final meeting between the Jets and Avs. These teams met just 11 days ago, with Winnipeg shutting out Colorado for the second time this season, a 3-0 home victory. In that meeting, Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice for the Jets and Connor Hellebuyck recorded 22 saves for the shutout. Colorado took the first meeting in Denver, defeating the Jets 5-2 on December 31st.
Winnipeg has won four of the last five regular-season meetings with Colorado. Included in those victories are three different shutouts, with Connor Hellebuyck recording all of them. Those three shutouts are Hellebuyck’s last three regular-season starts versus the Avs, and he will look to continue that streak in this game. The Jets have outscored the Avs 19-7 in those last five regular-season meetings.
Winnipeg Jets Suffer “Embarrassing” Loss to Utah
Jets head coach Scott Arniel wasn’t mincing words after their 5-2 defeat in Utah on Monday evening. The bench boss referred to the defeat as “the most embarrassing game… from top to bottom” when asked about their performance. Winnipeg was out of sorts all night, conceded odd-man rushes at an uncharacteristic pace, which led to several goals for Utah. For a team that doesn’t give up many easy chances to the opposition, this was an outlier performance by them. It was a night to forget for everyone, as Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi and Josh Morrissey were a combined minus-8 on the night (Connor was minus-4 himself).
The loss was also the second consecutive defeat for Winnipeg. The Jets have scored just five goals in their last three games after thumping the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 on January 15th.
Nathan MacKinnon: A Man on a Mission
Coming off of a 140-point season a year ago, it was hard to fathom Nathan MacKinnon being able to give us more. However, MacKinnon has been on a complete tear the entire season and is currently leading the league in points (74 in 48 games). Every night it looks as though MacKinnon can do whatever he wishes when the puck is on his stick. He is riding a four-game point streak, with three goals and three assists over that span.
However, the Winnipeg Jets have been able to contain MacKinnon through their three meetings this season. After dominating the Jets in last season’s playoff matchup, MacKinnon has struggled to find the scoresheet against them. He has been limited to just a lone assist (on an empty net goal).
Prediction
With both of these teams coming off of losses, expect to see a hint of desperation in this matchup. Winnipeg will be looking to respond to the criticism dished out by their head coach; Colorado will be wanting to defend their home ice. After such a dismal performance against Utah, the Jets will want this game badly. They have matched up well against the Avs this year and Connor Hellebuyck has played his best hockey versus them. It will be a tight game, with Colorado owning the lion’s share of the shots on goal and puck possession. However, Hellebuyck will rebound and stand tall, with the entire lineup bouncing back and eking out a close victory.
Prediction: Jets win 3-2
Prop Bet of the Night
We’ve got two anytime goal scorers for you in this contest. Gambling sites have Josh Morrissey at +600 to light the lamp in this game; he has four goals and six assists in his last ten games versus the Avs. On the other side, Mikko Rantanen is a scoring machine; gambling sites have him at +135 as an anytime goal scorer in this one. The big winger has 25 goals already this season.
Main Photo Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: January 22 Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.