WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – The Colorado Avalanche put up a good fight, but they ultimately fell to the top team in the NHL, the Winnipeg Jets, by a score of 1-0. Here are three takeaways from a game Colorado probably deserved a better fate in.

Georgiev bounces back

He gave up a goal just 70 seconds into the game, but ultimately Alexandar Georgiev played far and away his best game of the season. His biggest stop of the night came late in the game, when Nikolaj Ehlers was all alone in the crease and Georgiev sprawled across to get his glove on the shot.

He didn’t walk away with the win, but Thursday’s game should be a huge confidence booster for the Avalanche netminder.

No beating Hellebuyck

Colorado had its way with the Jets netminder in the playoffs, but Connor Hellebuyck got the last laugh Thursday, stopping everything the Avalanche sent his way. Most of his work came in the second and third period, as Colorado got off to a slow start, but when you have one of the best goalies in the NHL, you can rely on him to hold a lead. That’s exactly what the Jets did, as he stopped 35 shots for the shutout.

Colorado outshot the Jets 29-9 in the final two periods but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Second line goes quiet

After Ross Colton went down, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar decided to switch things up a bit on the second line. He’s tried Ivan Ivan there and now Joel Kiviranta, but that line can’t seem to find any offense. They were shutout again for the fourth straight game Thursday. Colorado can’t just rely on its big guns to win them the game. The MacKinnon line had plenty of scoring chances, but Casey Mittelstadt’s line didn’t generate much.

The good news is that Mittelstadt should be getting some help soon, as Jonathan Drouin and Valeri Nichushkin will return next week.

Jets 1, Avalanche 0

What happened: Winnipeg capitalized in the opening seconds of the game on a Josh Manson turnover and held on the rest of the way.

What went right: Alexandar Georgiev really needed that, stopping 27 of the 28 shots the Jets sent his way. After giving up an early goal, the next shot he faced was a breakaway and he stood tall. The rest of the night, he looked locked in, which is something the Avalanche haven’t seen yet this season. If he can find his game, the Avalanche can start to climb the standings.

What went wrong: No finish. Colorado created plenty of scoring chances but just couldn’t beat Hellebuyck. 

What’s next: Colorado returns home for a nice little home stand, hosting the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday at 7 p.m.