Trent Reinsmith
- What: Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnipeg Jets
- Date: Friday, February 24, 2023
- Location: Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: TVAS, TSN3, ALT, ESPN+
Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche travel to Canada to ace the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. The Western Conference matchup pits the Jets, who are the No. 2 team in the Central Division against the Avalanche, who sit in the No. 3 spot in the Central for the 2023 NHL season.
The Jets, who have played three more games than the Avalanche this season sport a 35-22-1 record (71 points). Meanwhile, Colorado’s record after 55 games is 31-19-5 (67 points). If the 2023 NHL playoffs started today, both of these clubs would make the postseason. However, the Minnesota Wild, who also have 67 points with 57 games played, are in the hunt to finish in the top three in the Central Division. As of now, the Dallas Stars, who have 72 points after 58 games played in 2023, are in first place in the NHL’s Central Division.
Before we look at the betting breakdown for tonight’s NHL matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 Stanley Cup and our tips for betting on the NHL.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnipeg Jets picks for February 24, 2023
| Teams |  |  |  |  |
| Colorado Avalanche | -104 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Winnipeg Jets | -106 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Colorado Avalanche breakdown
The Colorado Avalanche hit a rough patch near the end of 2022, but they have rebounded and are trending in the right direction. The reigning Stanley Cup champs went 1-7 between December 27 and January 12, but they are on an 11-4 run since then. The Avalanche enter tonight’s game against the Jets on a three-game winning streak.
The Avalanche have been without Gabriel Landeskog for all of the 2023 NHL season. That has hurt the team a bit, as he has been a point-per-game player. Star defenseman Cale Makar is also off the ice and in the NHL’s concussion protocol. listed as day-to-day and could miss tonight’s game. Darren Helm is listed as day-to-day on the Avalanche injury report.
Despite missing Landeskog, Colorado is still scoring at a good clip with Mikko Rantanen leading the way. The right wing has 36 goals and 66 points on the season. Nathan MacKinnon has taken over the scoring lead for the team, thanks to his 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in the team’s five most recent games. MacKinnon might be the hottest player in the NHL right now.
The Avalanche has a capable duo in the net in Alexandar Georgiev and Pavel Francouz.
Colorado has an away record of 17-10-1 on the season.
Winnipeg Jets breakdown
Winnipeg brings a 4-6-0 record in their past 10 games into their matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. The Jets ended a two-game road losing skid on Monday with a 4-1 win over the NY Rangers, but they return home to Canada Life Centre following a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Wednesday.
Kyle Connor leads the Jets in scoring with 66 points (26 goals, 40 assists). The team’s top goal scorer is Mark Scheifele with 34. Josh Morrisey leads the team in assists with 48.
The Jets have one of the best goalies in the NHL this year in Connor Hellebuyck, who has a 26-17-1 record, a 2.39 GAA and a .925 save percentage through 44 contests.
Winnipeg is 2-0 against the Avalanche this season, beating them 4-3 in overtime in October in Colorado and then shutting them out on home ice (5-0) in November. Hellebuyck was in net for both those games. His stats this season against the Avalanche are a 1.50 GAA and a .959 save percentage.
Best bet for Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnipeg Jets
No Western Conference team has more home wins than the Winnipeg Jets at 20 (20-8-0). With the way the club is playing at home and Hellebuyck’s play in net against the Avalanche this season, expect the Jets to win tonight’s NHL Western Conference matchup.
Pick: Winnipeg Jets to beat the Colorado Avalanche.
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