Eurolanche

Jets complete road trip against Avs

Season series: Bryan Little had a career-high four points and the franchise’s first hat trick since Dec. 18, 2010 to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 6-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 5 at MTS Center. Chris Thorburn, Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien also scored for the Jets.

Jets (15-9-5) team scope: The Jets began a two-game road trip with a 5-2 win Tuesday against the Dallas Stars and have earned points in their past seven games (5-0-2). Rookie forward Adam Lowry had two goals against Dallas. The Jets did not practice Wednesday. Left wing Evander Kane will serve the second game of his two-game suspension Thursday. The NHL suspended Kane on Monday for his hit from behind on Anaheim Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner in a game on Dec. 7. Forward TJ Galiardi played Tuesday after being a healthy scratch for 11 consecutive games. Galiardi played 12:36, which was more than five other Winnipeg forwards. Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec is likely to play against the Avalanche. Pavelec’s most recent game was in Winnipeg's 4-3 overtime loss to Anaheim. Defensemen Zach Bogosian (lower body), Grant Clitsome (undisclosed) and Toby Enstrom (lower body) remain out of the lineup. After visiting Colorado, the Jets begin a four-game homestand Saturday with a rematch against the Ducks.

Avalanche (9-16-3) team scope: Colorado is on a four-game losing streak (0-3-1) after a 3-0 home loss against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. The Avalanche held a players-only meeting earlier this week, the Denver Post reported. With goaltender Semyon Varlamov out after re-injuring his groin, rookie Calvin Pickard played Tuesday and made 33 saves after being recalled from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League. The Avalanche announced Wednesday that Pickard will start against Winnipeg. Ten Colorado players are injured and the Avalanche roster has 12 healthy forwards. The Avalanche, who finished fourth in the League last season with 2.99 goals per game, are 20th this season (2.50), and Tuesday was the fourth time this season that the Avalanche were shut out. Colorado is tied for second in the League with 18 one-goal games; it is 6-6-6. The St. Louis Blues visit Pepsi Center on Saturday, closing out a three-game homestand for the Avalanche.

-- by Patrick Williams for NHL.com --