All downhill for Avs after one goal

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This article was published 28/10/2016 (3259 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DENVER — Staying busy has worked wonders for the Winnipeg Jets.

Playing their second game in as many nights, the Jets jumped out to a fast start and held on for a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in NHL action Friday night at the Pepsi Center.

Shawn Matthias scored his second goal of the year and game winner at 8:29 of the second period on a hard blast that Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov couldn’t handle.

The triumph, not a masterpiece but well deserved, came just 24 hours after the Jets dumped the visiting Dallas Stars 4-1 and raised the Central Division team’s record to 4-4-0.

The Jets got another great effort from the line of Matthias, centre Adam Lowry and winger Joel Armia, who orchestrated the winning goal and was a force on the forecheck all night.

“We’re pretty happy that we finally scored a goal,” said Armia. “We played really good the whole game again. We’ve been working really hard.”

The Jets benefitted from sound goaltending for the second consecutive game. Michael Hutchinson was exceptional, stopping 37 shots — including 20 in the final period — for his first shutout of the season.

“You need that (quality of goaltending) on back-to-back nights,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “(Hutchinson) was spectacular, especially in some of the chaos that was going on in front of the net, (finding) a way to get a piece of all the ones he needed to.”

The night before, Connor Hellebuyck’s 38-save performance was a huge factor in the Jets’ victory over Dallas.

Varlamov blocked 20 shots for the hosts.

Colorado (3-3-0) didn’t look much like a club with ultra-fresh legs Friday night. The Avs went nearly a week without playing, and developed a layer of rust they couldn’t shake off until late in the first period.

Maurice used all four lines, spreading out the minutes. The line of Brandon Tanev, Alex Burmistrov and Chris Thorburn ate up valuable time in the second and third periods, blocking shots, chipping pucks out and forcing the Avs deep in their own end.

“That’s what you need,” said Hutchinson. “It wasn’t a perfect game for me. I let out some rebounds where you don’t really want to put them and our team did a great job battling and bailing me out on those. Everyone played amazing.”

First period

Maurice elected to start the Matthias-Lowry-Armia line and the move nearly paid instant dividends. Mere seconds into the game the trio stormed the Avalanche zone and created a pair of quick scoring chances, but couldn’t solve Varlamov.

“They’ve been so strong in all parts of the game,” Maurice said of the trio. “They’re generating big chunks of our offence right now, playing against the other teams’ best. I’m really excited about what they can continue to do.”

Winnipeg’s power-play unit went to work at 9:40 when veteran Avs’ blueliner François Beauchemin was nailed for tripping. Laine, set up at the top of the left circle, let a blast go that was stopped by Varlamov. Mark Scheifele jammed the puck through the legs of the Russian netminder but the goal was immediately waved off because the whistle had blown.

Late in the period, Laine dangled his way into the slot and released a quick shot but defenceman Nikita Zadorov stuck out his stick and deflected the drive over the glass.

Second period

Winnipeg drew first blood on Matthias’ one-timer slapshot at 8:29, but it was Armia’s work to protect the puck along the left wall and his accurate pass to the triggerman that was most impressive.

“Like I said a couple of days ago, the chances have been there and it’s nice to finally have one of them go in,” said Matthias. “Army made a great play. He’s been playing really well for us. He’s got a lot of talent. He’s a very skilled hockey player and he’s playing with a lot of confidence right now.”

Colorado couldn’t take advantage of a couple of power-play chances in the period.

Rookie defenceman Josh Morrissey, credited with the second assist on the Matthias goal, continued to show incredible poise playing alongside Dustin Byfuglien.

Third period

Avs left-winger Blake Comeau was slapped with his second offensive-zone minor penalty five minutes into the third period, but the Jets’ power-play unit looked disheveled and didn’t threaten.

Bouyed by the kill, Colorado pressed for the tying goal but Hutchinson wouldn’t bend, stopping forward Joe Colborne’s deke at 7:55 to preserve the one-goal lead.

As the Avs top line cycled down low, Morrissey’s stick came up and clipped Matt Duchene with just 5:10 left in regulation time.

Tanev made the best stop of a frantic series with the Jets a man short, spinning in the crease to block a shot with Hutchinson down and out with three minutes left.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar pulled Varlamov and Laine took a long shot at the open cage, but the puck hit the side of the post and skimmed wide, forcing an icing call.

The Jets held on to get back to the .500 mark through eight games.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @WFPJasonBell