Winnipeg Jets take control with 5-1 win over Colorado Avalanche - NHL Update
After a slow start to the game the Winnipeg Jets took complete control in the remaining two periods scoring five goals for a 5-1 victory at home ice against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, February 19th, 2012.
The Jets, who have picked up some massive wins recently, moved up the table to ninth but more importantly the win over Colorado puts them level on points with eighth placed Toronto Maple Leafs.
Winnipeg, now boasts a 29-26-6 record and 64 points and after what has been an inconsistent season are finally looking like a team that can make it into the playoff rounds.
This was the Jets third straight win.
Right Winger Blake Wheeler looked visibly pumped up with the win.
"I think our whole line is playing really well, when we were put together after the All-Star break, we made a conscious effort to make this thing work similar to how we did last year in Atlanta."
The Jets were outshot 32-25 in the game but for the first time they took full advantage of power plays to win the game by a huge margin.
The Avalanche though once again were hampered by their inconsistent performances.
Colorado ended a two game skid on Friday with a big 3-1 road win over Edmonton Oilers but could not build on that result against the Jets and goaltender Semyon Varlamov had a nightmare time in front of the net.
Avalanche, coach Joe Sacco, was disappointed in his players after the game.
"Overall, we just weren't good enough in all areas of the game. I don't think we had everybody here on deck tonight. In a big game like that, I would have expected a little bit more intensity from more guys."
Winnipeg and Colorado both had six shots each on goal in the first period as neither team managed to break the deadlock.
The Jets finally broke the deadlock at 1:45 of the second period as inform left winger Evander Kane powered his shot past Varlamov to make it 1-0.
Just a minute later Bryan Little made it 2-0 after some brilliant build up play by Andrew Ladd.
Colorado though found some of their attacking verve and outshot the Jets 20-8 in the period but they only had Gabriel Landeskog’s power play goal at 10:42 to show for all their effort.
Just a few seconds after Landeskog made it 2-1, the Jets regained their two-goal cushion with Kyle Wellwood scoring his 12th goal of the season.
The match was all but over in the third period as two power play goals from Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little put Winnipeg up by 5-1.
The Avalanche will now look to bounce back from this defeat at home on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings while Winnipeg will hope to enter the playoff spots on Tuesday during the visit of Philadelphia Flyers.
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