Skip to main content

Mittelstadt leads Avalanche past NHL-leading Jets 5-2

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, left, shoots against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) in the third period of an NHL hockey game Dec. 31, 2024, in Denver. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo) Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, left, shoots against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) in the third period of an NHL hockey game Dec. 31, 2024, in Denver. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo)
Share
DENVER -

Casey Mittelstadt ended a 19-game scoring drought with a tiebreaking goal in the third period and the Colorado Avalanche beat the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Mittelstadt last scored on Nov. 18 in Philadelphia and had been demoted to the fourth line. He broke that slump Tuesday by deflecting Josh Manson's shot by Winnipeg's Eric Comrie at 7:22, sending Colorado to its fifth straight win.

Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews also scored, Mackenzie Blackwood had 21 saves and Mikko Rantanen and Ross Colton scored empty-net goals to seal it.

The Avalanche led by a goal in the first and second periods, but Rasmus Kupari and Gabriel Vilardi tied it each time for Winnipeg, which had its four-game winning streak halted.

Takeaways

Jets: Comrie came into the game with a 3.05 goals-against average, 1.05 more than Connor Hellebuyck, but played well against Colorado, making 31 saves. Defenceman Dylan DeMelo left late in the third after taking a shot off the leg and didn't return.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Stay Connected