
The Winnipeg Jets are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
And right now the rock is the Colorado Avalanche and the hard place is postseason elimination.
On Friday night, the Jets took to the ice for Game 3 vs. the Colorado Avalanche in their best-of-seven opening round postseason series.
A back-and-forth opening two periods led to what was a third period collapse by the visitors,
Colorado scored three power play goals and another even strength marker as the hosts dominated Winnipeg on special teams in the game.
As has been the story of the series thus far, the Avalanche once again heavily outshot the Jets, while putting five goals past Connor Hellebuyck.
The Jets' backstop actually fared well in the first and second periods, but it was in the third where things went off the rails.
Entering the third up 2-1, Winnipeg gave up five unanswered goals in the frame, ultimately falling 6-2 in Denver.
The Jets will be right be back at it on Sunday afternoon in Game 4
Colorado opened the scoring on a first period tally by veteran forward Zach Parise, who found his second of the postseason off a play from Game 2 hero Josh Manson and Casey Mittlestadt.
Winnipeg responded in the middle stanza, as Tyler Toffoli potted an even-strength marker on a backhander along the goal line, tying things at ones five minutes in.
Then, with Mittlestadt in the box for hooking, it was Josh Morrissey who found his second of the series on a power play blast from the point. The goal was a result of a perfect screen between the combination of Gabe Vilardi and Sean Monahan in front of Alexander Georgiev.
But it was all Colorado after that.
With Mason Appleton in the box, Nathan MacKinnon tied things up at twos just 2:11 in. It was then a steady avalanche of offence from Colorado that did the Jets in.
Then, with Gabe Vilardi in the box for high sticking, Valeri Nichuskin scored on the power play, giving Colorado its second and final lead of the game.
Artturi Lehknonen scored a couple minutes later, before Ross Colton got another Colorado power play goal, ultimately doing Winnipeg in.
Devon Toews got an empty netter with over three minutes to play, sealing the deal on a 6-2 Avalanche win.
As time ticked off the clock, Brenden Dillon suffered laceration to his hand in a post-game melee while tangled up with Brandon Duhaime. The Jets' will turn their attention to Dillon's wound and responding to Colorado's offence for Game 4.
The Jets and Avalanche will renew the rivalry on Sunday afternoon in 1:30 PM tilt from Ball Arena.