Connor Hellebuyck in net tonight, Colorado’s leading scorer out

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/11/2017 (2844 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DENVER — The Winnipeg Jets will be looking to pad their impressive record against Central Division foes when they invade the Pepsi Center tonight for their first meeting with the Colorado Avalanche in 2017-18.

Game time is 8:30 p.m. (TSN3, TSN 1290).

The Jets are 5-1-0 against the Central to open the season, and that’s been a big part of their 15-6-3 start, good for second overall in the Western Conference. Colorado is 11-9-3, which puts them eighth in the NHL’s toughest division.

Winnipeg, coming off a 7-2 shellacking of the visiting Minnesota Wild Monday night, are expected to start Connor Hellebuyck in net tonight against the Avs.

Hellebuyck is off to a sensational start in 2016-17 with a 13-2-2 record, including a 5-2-1 mark on the road. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in 13 of his 17 starts this season.

The Avalanche are expected to counter with No. 1 puckstopper Semyon Varlamov, who is returning to action after a three-game absence due to illness. His numbers are modest (3.23 goals-against average, .903 save percentage), but the Avs have supplied enough offence for him to post a 7-4-1 record.

Colorado is enjoying a resurgence after a last-place overall finish in 2016-17. The Avs are led by star forward Nathan McKinnon, who has 26 points in 22 games.

However, scoring leader Gabriel Landeskog (nine goals) will not be in the lineup due to a four-game suspension handed out by the NHL’s department of player safety earlier this week.

Colorado’s captain was punished for his cross-check to the head of Calgary forward Matthew Tkachuk during a 3-2 loss to the Flames Saturday. McKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Landeskog are 1-2-3, respectively, in team scoring.

Following tonight’s game in the Mile High City, Winnipeg returns home for games against the Las Vegas Golden Knights Friday and the Ottawa Senators Sunday.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14