DENVER — In an impressive display, Casey Mittelstadt broke free from a lengthy 19-game scoring dry spell with a crucial goal in the third period, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, who hold the top position in the NHL standings.
Mittelstadt’s last goal had been recorded on November 18 against Philadelphia, and since then, he had been relegated to the fourth line. However, he turned things around on Tuesday night, redirecting a shot from Josh Manson past the Jets’ goalie Eric Comrie at 7:22 of the third period, which ultimately put Colorado ahead for good. This victory marked the Avalanche’s fifth consecutive win.
In addition to Mittelstadt, Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews each contributed a goal. Mackenzie Blackwood protected the net effectively, recording 21 saves, while Mikko Rantanen and Ross Colton added two empty-net goals late in the game to secure the triumph. During the match, Colorado had managed to stay in the lead through both the first and second periods; however, Winnipeg responded twice with goals from Rasmus Kupari and Gabriel Vilardi, tying the game on both occasions before Colorado pulled away.
A few notable takeaways from the game include the performance of Jets’ goalie Comrie, who entered the matchup with a goals-against average of 3.05—significantly higher than Connor Helleybuck’s. Nevertheless, Comrie delivered a commendable performance, logging 31 saves. Additionally, defenseman Dylan DeMelo exited the game late in the third period after being struck on the leg by the puck and did not return to action. On the Avalanche’s side, Jonathan Drouin made an impactful return, contributing an assist in his first game back after missing 16 games due to an upper-body injury. He played on the second line, but Ivan Ivan continues to be sidelined for multiple weeks with a similar injury, which allowed Juuso Parssinen to become the 38th player utilized by the Avalanche this season.
The game’s pivotal moment came as Winnipeg sought to equalize following Mittelstadt’s goal. There was a tense moment when a puck bounced off the back boards to Kyle O’Connor, but Blackwood pulled off a notable pad save with just 3:02 left on the clock.
In terms of historical context, excluding seasons that began in January or those with disruptions due to postponements, the Avalanche have successfully hosted 10 consecutive matches on New Year’s Eve, boasting a record of 5-3-2 during these games.
Looking ahead, the Winnipeg Jets are set to commence an eight-game homestand starting with a matchup against Anaheim on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche will be hosting Buffalo on the same day.
