With the Western Conference’s best team in town, Wednesday presented a test for the streaky Avalanche. Colorado flunked. The Jets beat the Avs 3-2 in overtime at Ball Arena, using a pair of second-period goals followed by Neal Pionk’s game-winner 17 seconds into the extra frame to increase Winnipeg’s lead in the Central Division to nine points. With 33 games left, Colorado’s nowhere near mathematically eliminated from overtaking the Jets down the stretch, but Thursday’s OT defeat only adds to the uphill climb. And it capped a five-game homestand that coach Jared Bednar labeled “inconsistent” after the Avs went 2-2-1. “We’re struggling to get everyone playing well at the same time,” Bednar said. “Coming off a stretch where we were really good for a long time (winning 10 of 13 games in December), we’re kind of riding the roller coaster here on this homestand, and even before that.” Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) shoots and scores against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in the second period at Ball Arena in Denver Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post) Even in the wake of Wednesday’s defeat in which Colorado missed out on a chance to pick up two points in the standings instead of one, Bednar said he liked the team’s effort and competitiveness. He also pointed out that even if the Avs are destined to play for a wild card berth, that path to the playoffs would be okay with him. “I don’t think it matters, as long as you make it,” Bednar said. “You’ve got us, Minnesota, Dallas, Winnipeg all in. They’re all going to have 100 points. When you take it over 82 games and you’re separated by a couple wins, four or five points, if we can get to that point where we’re a 100-plus point team, it doesn’t matter because all those teams can win.” In first period, Mackenzie Blackwood and Connor Hellebuyck kept the game scoreless with an array of solid saves by each goalie. Colorado’s most notable scoring chance in the opening frame came a few minutes into the game, when the team’s struggling power play couldn’t catch a break. After a high sticking call on Winnipeg, Nathan MacKinnon’s shot went through Hellebuyck’s legs, but the puck caught enough of the leg pad to slow the shot down. It hit the post, and barely stayed out of the net. In the second period, both offenses finally found their footing, and Colorado finally scored on Hellebuyck this season after the goalie shut out the Avs in his prior two games against Colorado this year. Devon Toews’ pass found MacKinnon, who skated down an open vein in the middle of the defense and fired a wrister off the right post. The rebound careened right back to his stick, and the reigning MVP easily put it in the net past a diving Hellebuyck, who appeared to still be trying to find the puck off the initial shot. MacKinnon’s 19th goal of the season put Colorado up 1-0 seven minutes into the period, but the lead was short-lived. A few minutes later, David Gustafsson’s cross-ice pass was perfectly placed to Morgan Barron, who just beat Blackwood’s back-leg kickout to put home the goal and even the game 1-1. Juuso Parssinen was too slow in coverage on Barron, and all Barron had to do was put his stick down on the ice to deflect the puck into the net. Then with 1:16 left in the period, the Jets took a 2-1 lead and quieted the crowd. After Blackwood turned away several promising Winnipeg chances in a shift gone wrong for Colorado, the Jets finally cashed in. Josh Morrissey’s wrister went off the leg of Gabriel Vilardi, who was standing at the front left side of Blackwood, and the puck deflected into the net. In the third, Colorado squandered several scoring opportunities before finally tying the game about seven minutes into the frame. Mikko Rantanen fed Cale Makar near the blue line, and Makar zoomed by a pair of defenders. He was tripped as he shot, but no matter — his slick wrister found the top right shelf. Makar slid into the boards as the lamp lit and the crowd erupted. He grimaced as he rose from the ice, the score tied at 2-2. “The couple goals that we did have were great plays,” Keaton Middleton observed. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) scores against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in the third period at Ball Arena in Denver Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post) Related Articles Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche’s Sam Malinski got the message, ready to re-establish himself as an everyday player Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche Journal: Colorado has a surprising leak in the boat, and it’s not just the power play Colorado Avalanche | Renck: Avalanche can beat NHL’s best. But inconsistency is hurting Colorado. Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche offense sputters in loss to shorthanded Wild Colorado Avalanche | How midseason shakeup changed the Avalanche locker room: “We’re closer as a group” With about 6:30 left, Blackwood kept the game even with a pair of stellar saves, stretching to block a puck with his left skate, then blocking the rebounded shot with his lower left leg pad. A couple minutes later, Winnipeg was called for tripping, but Colorado’s power play unit couldn’t deliver and the game went to overtime. It didn’t take long for Winnipeg to end the stalemate, as Pionk drilled a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle to win the game for the visitors. “We had to be better defensively tonight,” Makar said. “We gave up a couple odd-man rushes, and they hurt us.” Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.