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DENVER – So, Rick Bowness, just how important is tonight’s Game 3, considering your best-of-seven playoff series is tied 1-1.
“Listen, every game in the playoffs is must-win,” the Winnipeg Jets coach said following the morning skate in Denver.
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“You’re going into every game, whether it’s Game 1 or Game 7 with the same mindset, that it’s a must-win. So, we want the intensity up at that level. We want to play our game at that level.”
The Jets certainly need to be better than they were in Game 2, a 5-2 loss on Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre that has now turned this first-round matchup into a best-of-five.
It has also given the Colorado Avalanche home-ice advantage, which is no small development considering they posted an NHL-best 31-9-1 record in their own backyard this year.
However, two of those nine regulation defeats came at the hands of Winnipeg, including a 7-0 beatdown just 13 days ago, and the Jets recorded 25 total wins in enemy territory this season, third-most in the league.
“I think every game is a new challenge, especially in the playoffs. It’s completely different than the regular season,” Jets centre Mark Scheifele said.
“But obviously, we know we have the confidence in how we’ve played in this building and how we’ve felt. We’re still going up against a good team.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a different animal being in the playoffs. But we’re excited to take that challenge in stride… we know it’s going to be a great atmosphere out there. So, we’re looking forward to it.”
The Jets have inserted defenceman Nate Schmidt into the lineup for Friday’s game against the Avalanche.(Michael Dwyer / The Associated Press files)
The Jets will make one lineup change, with defenceman Nate Schmidt replacing Logan Stanley on the blue line.
As for the Avs, they’ll welcome backup goaltender Justus Annunen into the lineup after he missed the first two games with illness, while defenceman Sam Girard (undisclosed) is a game-time decision.
“We know that the atmosphere in here will be crazy again tonight, and our guys certainly like playing at home and they’ve shown that throughout the course of the regular season,” said Colorado coach Jared Bednar.
“Playoffs is a different animal. It’s a whole new season now and it’s the same opponent over and over and we’ll take their support. I know they’ll be excited to be able to watch us play a playoff game here after a long, hard-fought season.”
It’s Connor Hellebuyck vs. Alexandar Georgiev in the goalie matchup.
“It’s huge to push back. We’ve done some good things in the first two games, but we don’t feel like we’ve played our best game,” Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo said of trying to regain control of the series.
“We’re going to need to be at our best to beat these guys. There’s no doubt about it. They’re a fantastic team, we’re a great team, too.
“Two teams that are going at it, and for the first two games it’s been high pace, high intensity. We certainly need to bring our best effort tonight, no doubt about it.”
Here’s some other information to get you set.
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: If you love offence, this has been the series for you! There have been 20 combined goals already through two games, which had me wondering this morning if these teams are simply not capable of playing a tight-checking, low-event affair.
“It’s hard to predict,” Bednar said when I posed the question to him.
“Around the league, you think that the games are going to be hard fought, low scoring, and I thought both those games played in Winnipeg were hard fought and high intensity. But good players are making plays.
“Even though both teams are defending hard and doing the right things structurally, there’s still been some breakdowns and guys have been capitalizing on that. So, it’s hard to predict.
“Certainly, we have some things that we want to clean up on the defensive side of it, but at the same time we want to keep doing what we’re doing on the offensive side and building off that. You just never know; you’ve gotta play the game the way it’s presented in front of you and some nights they take a turn that you weren’t expecting.”
There’s certainly no shortage of firepower in both lineups, but I’m not sure getting into a run-and-gun track meet benefits the Jets, despite the fact they survived Game 1 by a 7-6 score.
Fact is, defence is their bread and butter, and I suspect Bowness would like to see a more buttoned-down affair.
You often hear the importance of getting the first goal, especially in the playoffs, yet the team that has done that is now 0-2 in this series.
“Both teams are very confident in their offence,” Bowness explained.
“I don’t think either team overreacts to being down one. They just keep playing their game and you’re confident that you’re going to get that one back.
By the way, I might be a bit of an old dog at the age of 49, but I’m not above learning some new tricks.
For evidence, see the first-ever Tik Tok video I produced – with some help from my talented colleague Eva Wasney back in Winnipeg – in which I bring you inside Ball Arena and tee up what should be a dandy of a game tonight.
Nikolaj Ehlers has been held off the scoresheet thus far in the Jets first-round series with the Avalanche. (JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES)
KEN SAYS: Nikolaj Ehlers, the stage is yours. The Jets’ most explosive skater has been held without a point through two games. While he’s generated some quality chances for himself and linemates Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli, Ehlers needs to break through offensively sooner than later if the Jets are to take a leg up here.
Offensive production in the postseason has been tough to come by for Ehlers at various points (four goals, 12 points in 34 career games), but it’s never been owing to a lack of effort and he’s determined to change that narrative.
Ehlers will be disappointed about his offensive-zone turnover that led to the fourth goal by the Avalanche in the waning seconds of the second period of Game 2 and I expect he will be at his best as the series resumes.
The Jets’ top line has been productive and Scheifele put an exclamation point on that with his one-handed redirection to make it 2-1 before Winnipeg gave up the next four goals.
Kyle Connor has shown hustle at both ends of the ice and is tied for the team lead in points with Scheifele (two goals, four points for each player).
Scheifele’s line is going to see some of Nathan MacKinnon as Bednar looks to get him away from Adam Lowry at times. Expecting Scheifele to finish ahead of MacKinnon in points in the series is a tall ask, but if he can continue to chip in offensively while not giving up more than his line gets is precisely what he needs to do.
Hellebuyck said between games 1 and 2 that he wasn’t worried about his numbers and that all he’s focused on is wins. There’s nothing wrong with taking that approach, but the facts are simple: his numbers need to improve to achieve his goal.
Through two games, Hellebuyck has allowed 10 goals and has recorded a 5.07 goals-against average and .870 save percentage. Of course the sample size is small, but he needs to win this goaltending matchup in order for the Jets to advance.
Five of his past six playoff starts haven’t been Hellebuyck-like, though he’s earned a reputation for his ability to bounce back over the course of his career.
It would be a surprise if he’s not razor-sharp this evening, with a two-day break between games coming at a perfect time.
Colorado’s line of Nathan MacKinnon (left) Mikko Rantanen (centre) and Valeri Nichushkin has been dangerous for the Avs. (Lindsey Wasson / The Associated Press files)
As for the Avalanche, Bednar went to his nuclear option in Game 2, moving Valeri Nichushkin up to the top line with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. Nichushkin has been a beast, with two goals on eight shots on goal and 17 shot attempts and is going to be a force, no matter what line he’s skating on.
MacKinnon has been noticeable and made the crisp pass to spring Josh Manson for the breakaway goal that was the insurance marker in Game 2.
The Jets have done a decent job of containing him through two games (one goal, three points), but he’s done a lot of damage at Ball Arena, so that challenge is about to become increasingly more difficult.
Much like the Jets, the Avalanche are getting solid contributions throughout the lineup and that’s a win for them – since Winnipeg’s depth, especially at forward, was supposed to be one of the areas where they could have an advantage.
Miles Wood has scored twice and has been a physical force alongside Ross Colton and Bowness-favourite Joel Kiviranta (whom he coached with the Dallas Stars).
Zach Parise’s game-winner in Game 2 came with him down on the fourth line and Manson’s marker gave the Avalanche defence corps two goals (compared to one for Winnipeg, with Josh Morrissey the only Jets’ D-man to find the back of the net so far).
Georgiev bounced back nicely in Game 2, but he’s still under the microscope here. That’s just a fact of life for goalies, especially in a playoff series.
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