BOTTOM LINE: The Winnipeg Jets host the Utah Hockey Club after the Jets defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime. Winnipeg has gone 32-14-3 overall with a 13-5-0 record against the Central Division. The Jets are first in NHL play with 170 total goals (averaging 3.5 per game).

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.

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

Wednesday in the NHL features an enticing Central Division matchup, with the Winnipeg Jets heading to Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league each day!

The Colorado Avalanche will face the Winnipeg Jets in this NHL matchup at the Canada Life Centre on Saturday, January 11th. WATCH: Avalanche vs Jets Live | Stream free on Fubo Colorado is chasing Winnipeg in the standings,

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.

DENVER — 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. Winnipeg's goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, made 22 saves against the Avs in a 3-0 shutout. Colorado has gone 2-2 since then.

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche will take on the Central Division leading Winnipeg Jets this Saturday from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. Coverage of the game starts at 4:30 p.m. on KTVD Channel 20. The Avalanche finish their three-game road trip in Winnipeg after going 1-1 since they began the trip on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Jets will be facing the Utah Hockey Club for the second time this week when the teams meet on Friday in Winnipeg. Utah, which posted a 5-2 home win on Monday, will be playing the second of back-to-back games.

It has been tough sledding of late for the Colorado Avalanche. Coming into Wednesday night’s contest with the Winnipeg Jets, the team had lost four of its previous six, including a 3-0 shutout at the hands of the Jets on Jan.

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.