Colorado solved its Winnipeg problem at just the right time.

For the first time since Feb. 24, 2023, the Avalanche took down the Jets in Winnipeg, solving Connor Hellebuyck three times on their way to a 3-2 victory. With the Dallas Stars losing in regulation earlier in the evening, Colorado’s lead in the Central Division is now up to nine points.

Here are five takeaways from another road victory by the Avalanche.

The folks that believe in jinxes won’t like this, but a nine-point lead in the division when Dallas has just 10 games left on its schedule is going to be a difficult one for the Avalanche to lose control of. Dallas has lost four in a row while the Avalanche have won four straight, so it really can flip on a dime, but Colorado’s schedule down the stretch is pretty favorable. They’ve put themselves in a very good position to take the top seed.

Another solid game from Mackenzie Blackwood, as both of Winnipeg’s goals came off horrific turnovers by the Avalanche while they were trying to exit their own zone. Wedgewood has been consistent all year but Blackwood started three of the four games on this road trip. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle the workload down the stretch but if they continue to go back to Blackwood, it should give you an idea of who they’re looking to get ready for the postseason.

Nathan MacKinnon must have heard Cole Caufield’s footsteps because he was slowly losing his grip on the goal scoring lead in the NHL. His two third-period goals now give him a four-goal lead over Caufield and he came very close to finishing off a hat trick on a late odd-man rush with Gabriel Landeskog.

Artturi Lehkonen returned to the lineup and with Colorado’s top nine struggling in the first half of this game, his presence allowed Jared Bednar to have some fun with his lines. Lehkonen moved up to the top line with Landeskog and MacKinnon for the second half, assisting on the game winner by MacKinnon. Martin Necas moved down to play with Brock Nelson and Ross Colton, while Valeri Nichushkin was with Nazem Kadri and Logan O’Connor. There’s still no Nicolas Roy, but Bednar can give the opposition a lot of different looks with the depth he has up front.

Speaking of O’Connor, he’s hit the ground running on the penalty kill looking like his old self. Colorado’s penalty kill has been trending up over the last five games and getting the “Shorty King” back certainly doesn’t hurt.

Avalanche 3, Jets 2

What happened: Colorado stuck with it, peppering Hellebuyck until they were able to solve him.

What went right: The fourth line for the Avalanche set the tone until the skill players finished the job in the third. Jack Drury scored his first goal in 20 games to tie the game up late in the first. Parker Kelly and Joel Kiviranta played great games at both ends of the ice. Kiviranta is likely the odd man out when Roy returns, but Bednar won’t hesitate putting him in the lineup again if the other forwards aren’t holding up their end of the bargain.

What went wrong: Both Jets goals came off mistakes right at the defensive blue line by the Avalanche, which can’t happen in the postseason. Necas misplayed an easy outlet pass along the boards on the first goal while Brent Burns drifted to nowhere after turning it over on the second. Easy things to clean up but they weren’t pretty.

Avalanche goal scorers: Drury (9), MacKinnon (47, 48)

Jets goal scorers: Scheifele (33, 34)

Between the pipes: Blackwood played well, stopping 22 of 24 shots.

What’s next: It’s the Jets again, but this time at Ball Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m.