MacKinnon's Two-Goal Third Period Leads Avalanche Past Jets 3-2

Win in Winnipeg

Nathan MacKinnon posted a pair of third-period goals and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced to help the Avalanche defeat the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 at Canada Life Centre on Thursday. Jack Drury added a tally for Colorado while Artturi Lehkonen assisted on the game-winning goal in his return to the lineup. Additionally, Colorado scored a power-play goal and went 4/4 on the penalty kill.

"I thought it was a hard-fought game," Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar said. "They (the Jets) came out checking hard, and we found a way to kind of get incrementally better as the game went on. We did some good things on the offensive side of it [and] drew some penalties. It was a good effort from our guys."

With the win and a perfect 4-0-0 road trip, the Avalanche improved to 48-13-10.

"Good defensive hockey overall," MacKinnon said about the team's play on the road trip. "Obviously, four in a row on the road is a great road trip."

How It Happened

WInnipeg's Mark Scheifele opened the scoring at 9:55 of the first period via a left-circle one-timer.

Drury tied the game at 17:40 of the first period with his career-high ninth goal of the season via a shot from the doorstep, capitalizing on a rebound created by Sam Malinski's right-point shot. With the secondary helper on the goal, Parker Kelly recorded his 12th assist of the season, setting a new career high.

The Avs took a 2-1 lead on the power play at 13 seconds of the third period when MacKinnon scored his 47th goal of the season via a shot from the blue paint that was set up by Nazem Kadri's feed.

MacKinnon doubled Colorado's lead at 3:55 of the third period with his second goal of the game and 48th of the season via a redirect at the doorstep off the rush set up by Lehkonen's saucer pass.

"He's an awesome player," MacKinnon said about Lehkonen. "We missed him. And it was a great pass."

Scheifele scored his second goal of the night and made it a 3-2 game at 9:39 of the third period with a shot from the doorstep.

Next Up

The Avalanche begins a three-game homestand on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets at 5 p.m. MT on Altitude, Altitude+ and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.