Going for their 12th straight win at home and succeeding, the Colorado Avalanche managed to hold the Winnipeg Jets at bay, winning 3-2.
The Avs took the first period in stride, getting goals from both Brent Burns (that looked to deflect off Winnipeg defenseman Hayden Fleury’s skate) and Martin Necas, who connected with Nathan MacKinnon for a beautiful goal to make it 2-0 heading into the second period.
A second period that saw the game get very, very chippy. A fight after a Josh Manson hit on Cole Perfetti, a scrum after a whistle in the Winnipeg crease with Artturi Lehkonen, and a few chirps here and there in between made this game move a little differently, but the Avs still kept the pace for most of the period. After Cale Makar draws a tripping penalty from Cole Perfetti, Morgan Barron finds himself on a breakaway and capitalizes, cutting the Avs’ lead in half, ending the period at 2-1.
After an unsuccessful back-half of the power play, Parker Kelly gets the team their two-goal lead back early in the third period off a deflected Josh Manson shot from the blue line.
About a minute and a half later, though, Mark Scheifele puts the Jets back within one on the power play (Devon Toews, hooking).
The Avs almost think they have their two-goal lead back, but it’s called off due to being scored with a high stick.
The boys will keep the Jets at bay for a 3-2 win.
Parker Kelly is nearing his career high in goals
Kelly, who has been a mainstay but steady, consistent force on the Avs’ fourth line, is nearing his career-high in goals, notching his 7th of the season tonight to help the team regain their two-goal lead early in the third period.
The best season of Kelly’s career came last year in the 2024-25 season, where he put up 8g/11a (19 points) in 80 GP. It was the second time in his career scoring eight goals, having done so in the 2023-24 season as well.
In 33 games played so far this season, Kelly has 7g/6a in 33 GP, well on his way to setting a new career-best.
Joel Kiviranta is back on the scoresheet
It might not have been a goal, but Joel Kiviranta notched his second assist in 16 games played this season, a secondary assist on Burns’ goal.
It’s on pace for some of his totals throughout his career (aside from last season’s anomaly, 16g/7a in 79 GP).
It’s also just barely trailing some of the numbers of his current linemates this season, Parker Kelly with 6g/6a in 33 GP, and Jack Drury (who has spent most of this season as the team’s 3C) with 5g/6a in 33GP.
