In Denver, the Avalanche entered the third period with a 2-1 deficit to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday. 
They ended the period with five straight goals and a 6-2 win in Game 3.
“Honestly, the struggle and the fight is the best part,” the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon said. “That’s why it makes the wins so sweet, and they’re so hard to get. You only need 16 [to win the Stanley Cup], but it’s hard to get 16. Overall, solid effort. The intentions are all in the right place and guys are working hard, and it’s just the beginning. We need to reset and come even harder on Sunday.”
Six different strikers scored for the Avs.
Alexandar Georgiev made 22 saves in the win.
“I thought [Georgiev] was awesome again tonight,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “So, he gives us time to like just keep chipping away and chipping away, and eventually we earn some power plays and capitalize on ‘em. The power play’s what gave us the life, right? You got to earn your penalties, too. Like I thought it was a hard fought, hard checking game.
“Offense was tough to come by, skilled players are making some plays and you get some opportunities if you get the right bounce, rebound, et cetera. But there wasn’t a whole lot of room to move.”
The Avs took a 1-0 lead in the opening stanza on a goal by Zach Parise at 11:18, scoring off a close in rebound.
“I think everyone in the room looks up to Zach, me especially, being a Minnesota kid,” the Avs’ Casey Mittelstadt said. “It’s an honor play with him and he did a heck of a job. I mean, he’s flying around out there hitting guys, making plays. So, made my job easy tonight.”
The Jets replied with a marker from Tyler Toffoli at 5:03 of the middle frame. He scored off a backhand shot from the below the left circle.
On the power play, Josh Morrissey put the Jets up, 2-1, at 10:50, of the second, scoring off a shot from the point through a maze of bodies, sticks, and legs.
“We’re doing a lot of good things to put ourselves in a position to try and win a game in a tough building on the road in the playoffs, and I think the easiest story is we got into penalty trouble,” Morrissey said. “You can take some real positives from that game, especially in the first two periods. It’s a seven-game series for a reason. Unfortunately, we dropped this one tonight and Game 4 is pivotal. We need to come out with our game and [play] a full 60-minute game on Sunday.”
Game 4 is set for Denver on Sunday.
From a Winnipeg perspective, the third period was a horror show.
MacKinnon scored off the power-play at 2:11 to the the game, 2-2. He also scored through a traffic jam with a shot from out high.
“I’m just looking to see where that F1 is and if I can get it through him, and then pray from there,” MacKinnon said. “It’s tough to see all four guys, but I figured I was in the middle of the ice. So, there’s probably no one else in the middle, and [I was] lucky. Great screen.”
Colorado took the lead, 3-2, on a goal by Valeri Nichushkin at 4:39.
Scoring off an odd man rush, Artturi Lehkonen made it 4-2 at 8:11.
“Being down one in the third there, we didn’t sit back on our heels and I think we kind of just took it to them,” the Avs’ Ross Colton said. “When we play with that speed, we play with that energy, we’re good team. Obviously, we got some power plays there, but we drew them with hard work and getting in on the forecheck and kind of putting them under pressure. So, it all starts with that.”
Colton scored another power play goal for the Avalanche at 12:35 for a 5-2 advantage.
“[Mittelstadt’s] been unreal. I just love his competitive level,” MacKinnon said. “it’s great to see him rise his game on the biggest stage, the brightest lights, and he looked awesome tonight. Not many guys would sauce that over in a third period playoff game, and it just shows you the confidence and poise he has.”
Devon Toews iced the game, and added salt to the wound with an empty net strike at 16:25 for the 6-2 final count on the scoreboard. 
“Clearly the discipline in the third period and the penalty kill just took us out of the game,” Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. “Listen, there’s three series out East that are 3-zip. We’re 2-1. They won a game in our rink. We have to come in here and win a game in their rink. It’s as simple as that. 3-2, 6-2, we lost the game. Our focus now is getting ready for Sunday afternoon.”
Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves in the loss. He was left defenseless in the third period.
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