Denver — For nearly 39 minutes on Friday night, the Colorado Avalanche seemed to be struggling, still searching for their rhythm. However, everything changed when rookie T.J. Hughes stepped up. Hughes scored two late goals in the second period, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead, and completed his hat trick with a decisive goal late in the third to seal a 5-2 preseason win over the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena. In total, Hughes tallied four points, with Jaden Schwartz adding a goal and two assists, while Nazem Kadri contributed two helpers. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves on 26 shots in this game.
Early in the game, the Jets got on the board quickly with Nino Niederreiter scoring on a rebound just over six minutes in. Winnipeg nearly made it 2-0 before Colorado’s first power play opportunity, which, unfortunately, didn’t produce much—just one shot. The Jets maintained pressure with a strong shot from Dylan Samberg before a questionable call on Gavin Brindley gave Winnipeg another power play, which was swiftly nullified by a penalty to Niederreiter.
The first period ended with Winnipeg leading 1-0, despite Colorado’s efforts. Early in the second, the Avalanche tied it up thanks to Jaden Schwartz, but Winnipeg responded quickly through Vladislav Namestnikov. Colorado faced more penalty troubles but eventually reclaimed momentum in the final moments of the period with Hughes scoring twice in rapid succession, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
In the third, Colorado effectively shut down Winnipeg’s attempts to rally, with Blackwood making key saves including a breakaway stop by Namestnikov. Cale Makar added an insurance goal to make it 4-2, and Hughes sealed his hat trick with a goal in the final seconds. Winnipeg finished with some solid performances from Niederreiter and Namestnikov, but Colorado’s resilient comeback and Hughes’ remarkable performance stand out.
Blackwood finished with 28 saves, and the game served as a promising sign of the Avalanche’s potential ahead of the regular season. They’ll conclude their preseason Saturday against the Utah Mammoth.
Fan Take: Hughes’ breakout night could be a glimpse of the scoring depth Colorado needs this season, and his energy might inspire the team to elevate their game. For hockey fans, moments like these reinforce why preseason hockey is worth watching — it’s where emerging stars can make their mark and hint at exciting things ahead.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
