- What: Colorado Avalanche vs Winnipeg Jets - Game 2
- When: Tuesday, April 23rd
- Where: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg
After a 13-goal Game 1, we now look ahead to Game 2 of an intriguing Central Division playoff series between the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets. The puck is scheduled to drop at 9:30 PM ET at the Canada Life Centre, which happened to be absolutely rocking for the series opener and it won't be any different this time around. Winnipeg won 7-6 on Sunday and showed why this first round matchup could be one of the best of the lot. For Colorado, they will be hungry for a road victory before heading back to the Mile High City. Continue reading for the Avalanche vs Jets Game 2 picks.
Before we get into the odds, preview, and prediction, make sure to check out our NHL Playoffs Page and our Stanley Cup Odds.
Avalanche vs Jets Game 2 Odds
| Team |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | -109 | -108 | -110 |
| Winnipeg Jets | -103 | -112 | -110 |
There's no clear favorite in Game 2. The Avs sit at -109 odds, while the Jets return at -103. Winnipeg has now won four in a row against Colorado.
Avs Need to Bounce Back
Colorado is coming off a very solid campaign but they've been tasked with a difficult Jets squad in the opening round of the playoffs. From the get-go in Game 1, it was absolute madness. The first period ended 3-3 before Winnipeg took a 4-3 lead in the second. Colorado scored three more in the third period, but it was too little too late. Cale Makar was the leading man in the series opener, scoring once and tallying two assists. Nathan MacKinnon, their best player, also had a goal and an assist. Six different players got on the scoresheet here.
The Avalanche outshot Winnipeg 46-23 but as you can see by the scoreline, they struggled immensely defensively. Alexandar Georgiev made just 16 saves on 23 shots. On a more positive note, Colorado was 2 for 2 on the power play, which has been a strength for them all season long. The offensive firepower is clearly there, Jared Bednar's team just needs to be a mile better in front of Georgiev. Their blue line ranked 16th in the NHL during the season compared to the top-ranked offense.
MacKinnon was phenomenal, tallying 140 points. Mikko Rantanen also had 104 points, while Cale Makar was at 90. There's no shortage of guys who can get it done, with Casey Mittelstadt, Valeri Nichushkin, and Jonathan Drouin all contributors too, but the latter is out for the first round due to injury. After Game 2, the Avs have a couple days off before Game 3 in Denver on Friday evening.
Great Showing From Jets
Winnipeg definitely fed off the energy of their home arena on Sunday and rode the wave until the end. Despite Colorado notching double the number of shots, the Jets took advantage of their chances. Kyle Connor and Adam Lowry led the way in Game 1 with two goals each, while Connor also had an assist. Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey, and Vladislav Namestnikov all found the back of the net as well. In between the posts, Connor Hellebuyck was terrific, making 40 saves on 46 shots.
The Jets finished as the second-best team in the Central and have now won nine straight, ending the season with eight victories in a row. Needless to say, Winnipeg is red-hot right now. In fact, they hammered the Avs 7-0 on April 13th. This team has definitely performed well against Colorado in recent memory. The biggest strength for the Jets is their blue line, which allowed a league-low 2.41 goals per night. It was hard to see that in Game 1 after conceding six, but this is a strong defense.
Scheifele was their points leader with 72 and he of course played his part on the weekend. But as you saw above, so many different guys can chip in offensively. That's part of the reason Winnipeg is such a dangerous team. The Jets lost in the first round in 2022-23 to the Vegas Golden Knights and hasn't had much success in the playoffs in past years, last making the conference finals in 2018. But despite being labeled as an underdog in this series, it's clear Winnipeg has every opportunity at eliminating Colorado. It will not be easy though, especially when they head on the road. That's why it would be massive to win both games on home soil.
Avalanche vs Jets Game 2 Picks
Do I think Colorado will lose four straight? Absolutely not. But, this atmosphere at the Canada Life Centre is unmatched and I do believe it will help the Jets grab another win on Tuesday. Take the Winnipeg moneyline.
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