Sam Malinski didn’t need a heart-to-heart, in-depth meeting. He got the message. Malinski, a healthy scratch for the past three games, returns to the lineup Wednesday night in a pivotal Central Division showdown against the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena.

The NHL Trade Deadline is just six weeks from Friday. Given the fact that the 4 Nations Faceoff is going to eat up two of those weeks, we ultimately have just four weeks of games remaining.

Instead, the Avs operated with the urgency of Eeyore. And the crowd wasn’t exactly buzzing either. For long stretches, the only sound was sticks clicking the ice. Close your eyes and it was hard to tell if this was Ball Arena or a Family Sports Center practice.

DENVER — 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.

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.

Today, the First and Second Quarter-Century Teams for the Colorado Avalanche. Players are listed in alphabetical order.

Linesman Jonny Murray was helped off the ice in the second period after taking a hit to the right leg from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, and he missed most of the remainder of the game.

Nathan MacKinnon is in a tight race for the Hart Trophy (MVP), but the Colorado Avalanche center likely added another bullet point to his strong résumé on Wednesday night.

Avalanche Legends of Past and Present Highlight Teams

Linesman Jonny Murray left in the third period after briefly returning following a second-period collision in the Avalanche game against Winnipeg on Wednesday night. Colorado defenseman Devon Toews was skating with Jets forward Kyle Connor in the Winnipeg end and collided with Murray near his right knee at 7:26 of the period.

The NHL's 2025 trade deadline is getting closer, but which teams made the best moves last year? The Golden Knights, Sharks, Sabres and Avalanche made the list.