The Avalanche lost 3-2 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday at Ball Arena. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar scored for Colorado while Jonathan Drouin recorded a pair of assists.

With the Western Conference’s best team in town, Wednesday presented a test for the streaky Avalanche. Colorado flunked.

Neal Pionk wearing an ‘A’ on his chest rips that shot home to win it for the Jets in overtime. Winnipeg takes it 3-2 in OT. What a game. They improve to 32-14-3 on the season. For those who would like to take a deeper dive into the advanced stats click here to see the results from the game via Natural Stat Trick.

Valeri Nichushkin appeared close to a possible return as he practiced with the team but he didn’t make it through the entire workout.

Nathan MacKinnon is in a tight race for the Hart Trophy (MVP), but the Colorado Avalanche center likely added another bullet point to his strong résumé on Wednesday night.

Winnipeg stands to both rebound and take advantage of a top-heavy Colorado lineup. My Jets vs. Avalanche predictions and NHL picks expect the road underdogs to bark loudest in tonight’s Central Division showdown.

Sam Malinski didn’t need a heart-to-heart, in-depth meeting. He got the message. Malinski, a healthy scratch for the past three games, returns to the lineup Wednesday night in a pivotal Central Division showdown against the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena.

HC Scott Arniel criticized himself and his players for their lacklustre effort against Utah HC on Monday. The Jets responded well against an excellent Avalanche team. Connor Hellebuyck turned away 25 of the 27 shots he faced, and MacKenzie Blackwood allowed three goals on 25 Jets shots.

The Colorado Avalanche remain without key forward Valeri Nichushkin, and that absence is going to continue for longer than expected.

Neal Pionk scored the winner just 17 seconds into the extra frame as the Jets captured the season series against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year.