AP

Avalanche blitz Jets early, win 5-1 for 4th straight

Feb 24, 2023, 6:15 AM | Updated: Apr 27, 2023, 5:13 pm


              Colorado Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen (96) and J.T. Compher (37) celebrate Compher's goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Colorado Avalanche's Brad Hunt (17), Andrew Cogliano (11) and Bowen Byram (4) celebrate Byram's goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) looks back as a shot by Colorado Avalanche's Bowen Byram, not seen, goes in for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) gives up a goal to Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) watches the puck as Winnipeg Jets' Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) looks for a rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck looks back as a shot by Colorado Avalanche's J.T. Compher, left, goes in for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry (17), Neal Pionk (4), Mason Appleton (22), Blake Wheeler (26) and Nate Schmidt (88) celebrate Appleton's goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Winnipeg Jets' Neal Pionk (4), Mason Appleton (22), Blake Wheeler (26) and Nate Schmidt (88) celebrate Appleton's goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Colorado Avalanche's J.T. Compher (37) and Matt Nieto (83) celebrate Nieto's goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Colorado Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin (13), Artturi Lehkonen (62), Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Devon Toews (7) celebrate MacKinnon's goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored 19 seconds in and the Colorado Avalanche got four goals on their first five shots Friday night in a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets that extended their winning streak to four games.

MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and J.T. Compher each had a goal and an assist. Bowen Byram and Matt Nieto also scored for the Avalanche (32-19-5), who are 5-0-1 in their past six games and 12-2-2 in their last 16.

“We were rested and we got some good practice in this week,” said Compher, whose team last played at home Sunday in a 6-5 overtime victory against Edmonton.

“We were ready right from the puck drop and continued it for 60 minutes tonight.”

Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves for Colorado, which has also won four straight on the road.

“Scored timely goals and played smart,” Georgiev said. “Managed to score some more in the second (period), and the third we shut them down completely.”

Mason Appleton had the goal for the Jets (35-23-1), who are 1-4-0 in their past five games.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped 21 of the 26 shots he faced in the opener of Winnipeg’s three-game homestand before he was replaced by David Rittich to start the third period. Rittich made 10 saves.

Earlier in the week, Jets coach Rick Bowness said this matchup against Winnipeg’s surging division rivals was the “most important game of the year.”

“Well, we were asleep to start the game. No question,” Bowness said. “So you talk to the players and get their opinion. We were clearly asleep.”

The Avalanche led 4-1 after the first and 5-1 following the second.

“From the first shift, you saw, obviously, they capitalized on their chances,” Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon said. “They were quicker to pucks. They were physical. We got humbled tonight.”

MacKinnon put Colorado ahead with his 20th goal of the season on a breakaway. It was the fastest game-opening goal by the Avalanche since MacKinnon scored 11 seconds in on Oct. 13, 2018.

“You want to give credit to them, they’re a really good hockey team, but we didn’t help ourselves tonight,” Appleton said. “We’re a really good hockey team when we want to be. We were not that tonight.”

Winnipeg tied it at 3:12 on the power play when Appleton tipped in Nate Schmidt’s drive from the point.

Rantanen made it 2-1 just 80 seconds later with his 37th of the season. He was followed by Compher three minutes later, and Byram bumped it to 4-1 at 10:58.

The Jets had their second power play in the final two minutes of the period, but didn’t get a shot on net.

Winnipeg changed its defensive pairings to start the second, but Nieto went to the front of the net and tapped in a pass from Compher to make it 5-1 at 10:59.

Colorado was 0 for 3 on the power play and Winnipeg went 1 for 5.

“Some time off this week to get some practice time in and some rest time, so that benefited us early in the game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.

“And then some really good discipline, structurally sound, made them earn all their chances. I thought we did a nice job on the defending side of it, moved the puck pretty efficiently tonight, so it turned out to be a pretty good performance for our group.”

PILING UP POINTS

MacKinnon has 14 points in a six-game point streak, including six goals. Compher has eight points in three games (two goals, six assists).

UP NEXT

Avalanche: Host the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.

Jets: Host the New York Islanders on Sunday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Avalanche blitz Jets early, win 5-1 for 4th straight