Wednesday in the NHL features an enticing Central Division matchup, with the Winnipeg Jets heading to Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league each day!

DENVER — Neal Pionk scored 17 seconds into overtime, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck started the winning play when he sent the puck to Vladislav Namestnikov, who fed Pionk skating down the right side. Pionk’s slap shot beat Mackenzie Blackwood to end Winnipeg’s two-game skid.

A spectator killed by an errant weight in a hammer throw event at a youth track and field meet was a dedicated father and husband with a great sense of humor, relatives said. The accident Sunday at

First Period_None. Penalties_Perfetti, WPG (High Sticking), 3:41; Manson, COL (High Sticking), 10:45. Second Period_1, Colorado, MacKinnon 19 (Toews, Drouin), 6:09. 2 ...

In 62 previous regular-season matchups against the Jets, the Avalanche are 29-26-7. This season, the home teams are undefeated, with the Jets winning in Winnipeg on November 7 and January 11 while the Avs won in Denver on December 31.

Second Period_1, Colorado, MacKinnon 19 (Toews, Drouin), 6:09. 2, Winnipeg, Barron 5 (Gustafsson, Morrissey), 10:56. 3, Winnipeg, Vilardi 20 (Morrissey, Namestnikov), 18:44.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined federal agents in New York City on Tuesday to announce the arrests of immigrants wanted on criminal charges, including a man accused of kidnapping who was seen on a viral video entering a Colorado apartment with reputed gang members.

The Bruins get a big boost on the blue line on Thursday night as both Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo return to the lineup for Boston’s matchup against the NHL-best Winnipeg Jets at TD Garden. McAvoy,

Game Preview, 1/24: Utah Hockey Club vs. Winnipeg Jets WHEN: 6:00 p.m. MT WHERE: Canada Life Centre - Winnipeg, Manitoba TV: SEG+, UtahHC+, Utah 16 | RADIO: KSL Sports Zone 97.5 FM, NHL App

BOTTOM LINE: The Winnipeg Jets host the Utah Hockey Club after the Jets defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime. Winnipeg has gone 32-14-3 overall with a 13-5-0 record against the Central Division. The Jets are first in NHL play with 170 total goals (averaging 3.5 per game).

During Tuesday night's New York Islanders game against the Colorado Avalanche on ESPN+, play-by-play man John Buccigross made the following statement: "Brock Nelson, picked by Bill Guerin (for 4 Nations Face-off). Everyone thinks Nelson is going to sign with Minnesota. It's like the worse kept secret in hockey that he'll be with the Wild next year"

The West has six teams with a chance to win the Stanley Cup north of 2.5 percent. These are each team’s signature strengths and fatal flaws.