Summary: Jets 2 – Avalanche 1 (3rd period)
Time for game three of the series between the Winnipeg Jets and the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche intended to build on their victory in Game 2 of the series. So does forward Zach Parise. After hitting the mark during his team’s 5-2 win in Winnipeg, Parise came back strong in the first period on Friday. He pounced on a Josh Manson throw return given by Connor Hellebuyck to put the locals in control. At 39, the forward scored the 39th goal of his career in the playoffs.
Winnipeg knocked on the door before the siren of the first period, but Alexandar Georgiev stood up with a nice move to deprive Mark Scheifele of a goal.
The Avalanche goaltender certainly blamed himself at the start of the middle period when he allowed Tyler Toffoli to level the score. Georgiev poorly covered the openings against the post to his right and the Jets striker’s backhand shot got the better of him. Toffoli will take this goal with pleasure as he broke the ice with his first point of the current series.
Georgiev has nothing to be ashamed of on the Jets’ second goal of the game. During a power play, Josh Morrissey took advantage of the heavy traffic in front of the net to unleash a powerful shot that found its way into the ropes. The defender also scored in the first clash.
Toffoli had the chance to give his team a cushion moments later when he appeared alone in front of Georgiev. This time, the goalkeeper had the best with a save on his opponent’s backhand feint.
The Avalanche succeeded in their first mission by extracting a game at the home of the Jets, so that it is a tie after two confrontations.
Now, Jared Bednard’s squad will want to extend their known success at home during the regular season in the playoffs. The Avalanche have won an impressive 31 games in front of their fans, an NHL high.
So far, 20 goals have been scored since the start of this first round confrontation. If it is not surprising to see such a figure associated with the Avalanche, who occupied the top in the circuit this season for goals scored per game with 3.68, it is quite different for the Jets. The Manitoba team allowed only 2.41 goals per game this season.
Jets head coach Rick Bowness said defenseman Nate Schmidt would be in the lineup for the third game of this first-round series on Friday. Logan Stanley will be left out.
Schmidt was scratched from the Jets’ 7-6 Game 1 win and 5-2 Game 2 loss. He should play with Dylan Samberg.
Samuel Girard was back in the Avalanche lineup after missing his team’s last four games due to a concussion.
The fourth game of the series will be played on Sunday.
