Jets Aim to Continue Hot Streak Against League-Leading Avalanche

Winnipeg Jets look to gain ground in playoff race as they host Colorado Avalanche in key Central Division matchup.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 8:10am

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The Winnipeg Jets are riding a hot streak as they welcome the league-leading Colorado Avalanche to town for a crucial late-season clash. The Jets have won two straight and earned points in three consecutive games, trying to stay in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Avalanche have regained their dominant form, winning three games in a row to build a cushion atop the Central Division. Colorado will be looking to avenge an earlier 3-1 loss to Winnipeg earlier this month.

Why it matters

This game has major playoff implications, as the Jets are trying to catch up to the Nashville Predators for the final wild-card spot in the West. A win over the league-leading Avalanche would be a huge boost to Winnipeg's postseason aspirations. For Colorado, it's a chance to further solidify their position atop the Central Division and gain some revenge on the Jets.

The details

The Avalanche will be without forwards Artturi Lehkonen and Nicolas Roy due to upper-body injuries, but they still have plenty of firepower led by NHL goals leader Nathan MacKinnon. The Jets, meanwhile, are led by Mark Scheifele, who is one point away from matching his career high. Winnipeg is 4-1-2 in its last seven games and needs every point it can get to catch Nashville for the final wild-card spot.

  • The teams last met on March 14th, with the Jets winning 3-1.
  • This is the third of four games between the teams, with the final matchup coming on Saturday in Denver.

The players

Nathan MacKinnon

The Avalanche center leads the NHL with 46 goals and is third in league points with 115.

Mark Scheifele

The Jets' leading scorer with 86 points (32 goals, 54 assists) is one point away from matching his career high.

Logan O'Connor

The Avalanche forward made his season debut on Tuesday after missing the first 69 games recovering from offseason hip surgery.

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What they’re saying

“We have been pushing since the break, pushing our hardest every day. And all we can do is control what we can control and tonight we played a great game, and it showed throughout the entire game.”

— Mark Scheifele

“That's been a long time coming. Hopefully, as the games go on, (I) feel more and more comfortable and continue to find my game more and to my identity as it goes on.”

— Logan O'Connor

What’s next

The teams will meet again on Saturday in Denver to wrap up the season series.

The takeaway

This game is a crucial late-season matchup between two teams heading in opposite directions. The Jets are fighting to stay in the playoff race, while the Avalanche are trying to solidify their position atop the division. The outcome could have major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.