Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/8/2022

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MA

Where to watch: TSN3, ALT

DraftKings: Avalanche -180, Jets +155

BetMGM: Avalanche -190, Jets +155

Caesars: Avalanche -179, Jets +155

Avalanche: 50-14-6

Jets: 33-28-10

The Colorado Avalanche will be playing the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg this Friday, April 8. We’ll have to see if Colorado is going to add a fifth game to their four game winning streak or if Winnipeg will break their losing streak.

With a 6-4 result against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena, the Colorado Avalanche have officially clinched a berth in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This will be the fifth straight playoff berth for the Avalanche. They also became the first NHL team to 50 wins this season.

Heading into Tuesday night's rematch in their home-and-home set against Pittsburgh, the Avalanche only needed a single point to punch their ticket to the postseason

Nathan MacKinnon Scored his 23rd and 24th goal of the season and got the better of good friend and offseason workout partner Sidney Crosby and his Penguins.

"We've built a strong culture here," Nathan MacKinnon, who posted a two-goal outing in Tuesday's win, said. "We have a lot of amazing players, [Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar] has done an amazing job, obviously [Executive Vice President and General Manager Joe Sakic] has put this team together, but it doesn't mean anything. We won the President's Trophy last year. It doesn't matter if you're [ranked] eight or one. We just want to get in and do some damage."

Mikko Rantanen continued a six-game point streak with an assist in his 400th NHL game. He has 400 career points. 

Colorado regained a multi-goal lead for good 1:01 into the third period when Josh Manson’s point shot beat Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry. Manson’s goal was the 57th by a Colorado defenseman, the most by an NHL blueline since the 2007-2008 Chicago Blackhawks scored 59 goals.

The Avalanche have been on a roll, having only lost two of their past ten games. 

Colorado currently leads the league with 106 points and recorded its third 50-win season in franchise history.

Last month, the Avalanche became the fourth NHL team in the last 25 years to reach the 100-point mark in 67 games or fewer, the fastest mark in franchise history.

The Winnipeg Jets are split down the middle their past ten games with five wins and losses. The Jets’ most recent game resulted in a loss against the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 this past Wednesday, April 6th.

Mark Scheifele scored Winnipeg's lone goal - at least, the only one that counted.
Blake Wheeler also scored, but it was taken off the board after a coach's challenge for offside.

The Jets’ playoff hopes are fading in the Western Conference. Winnipeg currently has 76 points, while Nashville has the first wild card with 84 points, and Dallas has the second spot with 83. Vegas also began the day with 82 points.

“Obviously we can’t afford to lose games right now," defenseman Josh Morrissey said. "And that’s a game we shouldn’t lose. Just with their schedule and our desperation, they’re playing on a back-to-back.”

Winnipeg interim head Dave Lowry said the locker room was quiet when he went in after the game.
“As a coach you’d like it to be loud, that you’ve won a hockey game,” Lowry said. “I understand where the players are. I understand the disappointment. That just shows that they care. And that’s a big thing.”

Following Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, there wasn't much Morrissey - or his teammates- had to say.

"I don't think one word has been said since the game ended in the locker room," said Morrissey. "Not one word."
 
The Jets still have a chance to change the outcome of their season going into Friday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.

The comparisons between these two teams are night and day. You’ve got one team, the Colorado Avalanche, that has not a care in the world for the remainder of the regular season, while the other, the Winnipeg Jets, are still fighting for that playoff spot. If Winnipeg continues to get discouraged when any shred of doubt gets thrown their way, they’ve already set themselves up for failure. Avalanche win 5-3

Avalanche are 16-5 this season off a road win.

Avalanche are 26-8 this season after playing a road game.

The Jets are 13-11 this season against division opponents.

The Jets are 24-31 the past three seasons after a non-conference game.

Avalanche:

Andre Burakovsky -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen

Artturi Lehkonen -- J.T. Compher -- Valeri Nichushkin

Alex Newhook -- Nico Sturm -- Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Andrew Cogliano -- Darren Helm -- Logan O'Connor

Devon Toews -- Cale Makar

Jack Johnson -- Josh Manson

Bowen Byram -- Erik Johnson

Darcy Kuemper

Jets:

Paul Stastny -- Mark Scheifele -- Nikolaj Ehlers

Kyle Connor -- Pierre-Luc Dubois -- Blake Wheeler

Zach Sanford -- Adam Lowry -- Mason Appleton

Morgan Barron -- Dominic Toninato -- Evgeny Svechnikov

Josh Morrissey -- Dylan DeMelo

Nate Schmidt -- Neal Pionk

Logan Stanley -- Brenden Dillon

Connor Hellebuyck

Points: Mikko Rantanen -- 84

Goals: Mikko Rantanen -- 35

Assists: Nazem Kadri -- 57

Goalie: Darcy Kuemper -- 33-9-3, 2.40 GAA, .925 SV%

Points: Kyle Connor -- 82

Goals: Kyle Connor -- 41

Assists: Blake Wheeler -- 42

Goalie: Connor Hellebuyck -- 25-25-9, 2.91 GAA, .912 SV%