DENVER — Neal Pionk scored 17 seconds into overtime, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck started the winning play when he sent the puck to Vladislav Namestnikov, who fed Pionk skating down the right side. Pionk’s slap shot beat Mackenzie Blackwood to end Winnipeg’s two-game skid.

In 62 previous regular-season matchups against the Jets, the Avalanche are 29-26-7. This season, the home teams are undefeated, with the Jets winning in Winnipeg on November 7 and January 11 while the Avs won in Denver on December 31.

MacKinnon registered two assists, four shots on goal and two blocked shots in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Rangers.

The Colorado Avalanche take on the Winnipeg Jets for the second time in two weeks. Coverage of the game begins at 7 p.m. on KTVD Channel 20. The last time these two teams saw each other was on Jan. 11.

BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche play the Winnipeg Jets in a matchup of Central Division opponents. Colorado is 28-19-1 overall with a 7-8-0 record against the Central Division. The Avalanche have a +10 scoring differential, with 159 total goals scored and 149 conceded.

Konecny has been on a steady rise. He has led the Flyers in scoring each of the last three seasons and four of the past five. An All-Star last February, he finished the 2023-24 season with a career high in goals (33) and points (68), and he’s on pace to shatter his best numbers with 35 goals, 59 assists and 94 points this year.

Connor Hellebuyck will surely start getting some additional rest later in the season, so the race at the top right now is between Nikita Kucherov and Nathan ... G2 30. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg ...

Even with that talent, the Avalanche have yet to solve Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, who leads all NHL goalies in wins (28), save percentage (.927), goals-against average (2.02) and shutouts (six). Two of those shutouts have come against Colorado, and he could be back in net after allowing four goals to Utah.

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The Colorado Avalanche revealed Monday the picks for their first-and-second-team Quarter-Century teams. And four current Avs stars were honored by making the teams.

Ten games before their breather. As the Calgary Flames continue to push for an unexpected playoff berth, they’re determined to leave themselves in a good spot when the NHL pushes pause for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Jets are an excellent team worthy of an all-in approach. Who should be their ideal targets at the trade deadline?