WINNIPEG – The third time was not the charm for the Winnipeg Jets once again. The Jets still haven’t won three games in a row this season as a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday halted the Jets short two game win streak.
Despite registering 37 shots, the injury ravaged Jets struggled to get pucks through to the Avalanche net. The Avs recorded 21 blocked shots as Joel Armia scored the Jets only goal in the games final minute.
“Sometimes the puck bounces your way, sometimes it doesn’t.” Blake Wheeler said. “When it rains it pours. Seems like the games we dominate we lose. It’s kinda of a weird thing.”
Carl Soderberg and Jarome Iginla scored goals for Colorado. Semyon Varlamov made 36 saves in the win.
Making his seventh straight start in the Jets crease Connor Hellebuyck made 32 stops in a losing cause.
“It’s hard to put my tongue right on what is the difference.” said Hellebuyck. “I thought we played pretty good. I thought we were blocking a lot of shots and we were paying the price. I guess that’s just how hockey goes.”
“We don’t feel like they’re outplaying us at all.” Mathieu Perreault said. “If you watch that game we had a lot of good chances straight down the slot. A lot of good looks. It’s just for us to bare down and put them in and at the end of the day that’s all it takes.”
The two teams traded chances in the first period. The Jets had the bulk of the chances early while the Avs finished the period strong. There were no goals in the first as Winnipeg outshot Colorado 12-10.
Just 1:16 into the second period the Avs opened the scoring. On a delayed penalty call Blake Comeau let off a slap shot from the point. Hellebuyck stopped the original shot and the rebound as well but the Avs were a third time lucky. Soderberg shoveled in the loose puck for his ninth goal of the season and a 1-0 Colorado lead.
The Avs tacked on another goal with just 17.3 seconds remaining in the middle period. Soderberg spotted Iginla and he rattled it off the crossbar and in. Iginla’s 13th goal of the season gave Colorado a two goal lead headed to the third period. The shots were 16-9 in favour of the visitors in the second.
The Avs came close to going ahead by three in the early stages of the final frame. On a 2-on-1 Hellebuyck robbed Binscarth’s Cody McLeod to keep the Jets within striking distance.
At the midway point of the period Wheeler found himself all alone in front but he couldn’t solve Varlamov either.
With five minutes to go Wheeler saw another glorious chance disappear as he rung the wrist shot off the goal post behind Varlamov.
Then with just 41.6 seconds remaining Perreault fed Armia and he roofed it to get Winnipeg within a single goal. Nikolaj Ehlers had the other assist but the Jets just ran out of time in suffering a 2-1 loss.
“We had enough offence to have a better result in a tight game,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “And both teams battled hard, competed hard on pucks, blocked a lot of shots. There wasn’t a whole lot of easy offence to be had.”
Fresh after getting called up from the Manitoba Moose JC Lipon made his NHL debut playing on a line with Anthony Peluso and Andrew Copp. Lipon provided some energy on the fourth line logging 7:11 of ice time while registering one hit.
Adam Pardy and Patrice Cormier were both scratched.
The Jets homestand continues on Thursday as they welcome back the Nashville Predators for the second time in a week.
WATCH: Paul Maurice and Jets players discuss the 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
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