Playoff Game 4 Recap: Jets @ Avalanche

The Winnipeg Jets have been struggling to find their top level game in the post-season, but they had another chance to discover it on Sunday afternoon. The Colorado Avalanche were the NHL’s best home team this season and were hoping to use that advantage to take a firm grasp on the series with a third win. Lets find out how things went…

When the puck was dropped to begin Game 4, it was the Avalanche who appeared more interested in winning the game as the Jets were stuck defending for long stretches of the 1st period. Colorado outshot Winnipeg 9 to 1 in the opening 6 minutes and it was only Hellebuyck’s play that kept the game scoreless. Eventually the pressure was too much for the Jets’ defense and when Stanley turned over the puck in his zone, Mittelstadt was able to send the puck out front to Lehkonen, who Schmidt left totally uncovered in front of the crease. Now down a goal, Winnipeg eventually found a way to spend some time in Colorado’s zone thanks to a nice breakout pass by Stanley. The dish allowed Appleton to gain the zone with speed, driving the defenders back before dropping a pass to the trailer. Schmidt received the pass, stepped into the high slot and let a hard wrister go that beat Georgiev to tie the game with 6 minutes to play. The Avs challenged the play for off-sides and while it was very close, the NHL’s center of operations couldn’t see enough to overturn the call of a goal on the ice. That gave Winnipeg a huge chance to take advantage of their 1st powerplay, but the team failed to even test the Avs’ goaltender once with the extra skater. The Jets finished the frame strong, including a span of 5 straight shots, but MoneyPuck still gave Colorado the advantage in play after one.

First Period MoneyPuck Stats:  Score: 1 to 1 tie, shots 12 to 9 for the Avs, 69% Deserve To Win for the Avs, Expected Goals – all situations (1.37-0.52 COL), & 5 on 5 (1.37-0.51 COL)

The Jets had a good shift to start the 2nd period, with the 2nd line getting looks from Monahan (saved) and Toffoli (wide). Eventually the Avs started to control play again and were helped out by two penalties to Stanley. Winnipeg’s penalty killers & Hellebuyck somehow combined to keep the game tied. The Jets’ tender had to make a bunch of quality saves to keep it that way, but eventually Colorado broke through when a 3rd man-advantage saw Nichushkin deflected a Makar point shot by Bucky. Winnipeg’s starter had to make a few more saves as…