Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk (4) passes the puck to left wing Alex Iafallo (9) against the Utah Hockey Club during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
DENVER (AP) — 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.
Morgan Barron and Gabriel Vilardi also scored for Winnipeg, and Hellebuyck stopped 25 shots.
Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar scored for Colorado, and Blackwood had 22 saves.
Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the second on MacKinnon’s 19th goal of the season, but Barron and Vilardi scored before the second intermission to give the Jets the lead.
Makar tied it at 7:05 of the third when he got behind the Winnipeg defense and sent a shot over Hellebuycky’s left shoulder as he was falling to the ice.
Linesman Jonny Murray left the game in the second period after a collision with Colorado defenseman Devon Toews. He returned to start the third but left again and didn’t return.
Takeaways
Jets: Winnipeg rebounded from a loss at Utah that coach Scott Arniel called “embarrassing.” The Jets limited Colorado’s chances and killed off both power plays, including one late in the third period.
Avalanche: Colorado finished a five-game homestand 2-2-1 and dropped two division games. The Avalanche lost three of four games against Winnipeg and are 7-8-1 against Central Division opponents.
Key moment
With the score tied late in the third period, Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele got behind Colorado defenders and had a close-in chance that Blackwood saved. Scheifele tried to tap in the rebound but Blackwood stopped it with his left pad as he was sprawled in his crease.
Key stat
Hellebuyck had a shutout streak of 140 minutes against Colorado broken by MacKinnon’s goal. Two of his six shutouts this season have come against the Avalanche.
Up next
Jets host Utah on Friday to begin a two-game homestand, and Avalanche visit Boston on Saturday to open a three-game trip.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg, center, looks for the puck while jostling for position between Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, left, and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta, front, puts a shot on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Winnipeg Jets center Cole Perfetti, right, passes the puck past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Winnipeg Jets left wing Alex Iafallo, second from left, puts a shot on the net as, from left, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right wing Mikko Rantanen and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood cover in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly, front right, jostles for position with Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo, back right, as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck covers the net in the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood prepares to return to play during a time out in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Winnipeg Jets center Morgan Barron, center, is congratulated after scoring a goal by centers David Gustafsson, left, and Mason Appleton in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg, center, looks to collect the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, left, and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood cover in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, back, directs his team against the Winnipeg Jets in the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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