No one expected a sweep, Winnipeg Jets coach says as series shifts to Colorado for Game 3

Resting on top of an audio speaker just inside the entrance to the Winnipeg Jets' locker-room sits a reminder of what the NHL team is fighting for.

A blue board, complete with team logo and Stanley Cup in the background, has plastic slots for 16 hockey pucks — one for each post-season victory.

One slot was filled after Winnipeg split its first two home games against the Colorado Avalanche. The Jets will need to pick up their play on the road to make it a growing collection.

"I don't think anyone expected this series to go four straight for either side, so here we are in Game 3," said Jets head coach Rick Bowness. "It's 1-1, we know we have to win another game in this rink."

Bowness ran his players through a firm one-hour practice Thursday at Denver's Ball Arena. Winnipeg opened the best-of-seven series with a wild 7-6 victory but Colorado responded with a potent 5-2 win in Game 2.

Colorado has some momentum entering Friday's Game 3 after converting on opportunities and using its forechecking prowess to prevent the Jets from building plays.

The Avalanche posted a league-best 31-9-1 home record in the regular season, although two of those nine losses came to the Jets.

"This is a team that finished ahead of us in the standings," said Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar.

"We consider ourselves a pretty good team. We know how deep they are. You have to have a full team commitment in order to win and then you've got to go and play your best hockey at the key times, which is now.

"Two games doesn't cut it. It might take seven and we have to be committed to doing that."

There have been some surprises in the first-round matchup between clubs that were separated by just three points in the Central Division.

Few hockey observers