3 key Winnipeg Jets takeaways from win over Avs: Hellebuyck gets 40th career shutout, joins elite company after 13-1 start

The Winnipeg Jets have come out the gates as the hottest team in the early goings of the 2024-25 NFL season, and they extended their momentum with a victory on Thursday night over the visiting Colorado Avalanche at Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg.

While Jets fans may have initially anticipated a blowout after Winnipeg scored a goal just over a minute after the opening face-off, it became a defensive slugfest that ended in a 1-0 win.

The victory improved the Jets' record to an impressive 13-1 through 14 games, while the Avalanche dropped to a 6-8 record, two games below the .500 mark.

The first and only goal of the contest was scored by Winnipeg's Gabriel Vilardi, who took a pass from teammate Mark Scheifele on a 2-on-1 rush and beat goaltender Alexander Georgiev with a glove-side shot.

It was an easy night for the scorekeepers, who only had to log Vilardi's goal. Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck earned his 40th career shutout (and second of the season) with 35 saves, while Georgiev made 27 saves in a losing effort.

While the prize up for grabs on Thursday night was only a pair of regular season points, the Jets can feel some satisfaction in avenging their playoff loss to the Avalanche in the opening round of the 2024 Stanley Cup.

Let's take a look below at the three biggest takeaways from the Winnipeg Jets' 13th win of the year.

3 takeaways from Winnipeg Jets 3-1 victory over Colorado Avalanche

#1. Connor Hellebuyck continues his spectacular start

While the Jets are the NHL's highest-scoring club, they only needed a single goal to beat the Avalanche thanks to yet another vintage performance from Hellebuyck in goal.

With his 40th career shutout, he's only one away from Marty Turco's all-time mark of 41 shutouts and four away from Ryan Miller's tally of 44. He continues to prove that the Jets made the correct choice in re-signing him to a hefty contract extension last season.

#2. Winnipeg continues to put the rest of the NHL on notice

Thanks to their win, the Winnipeg Jets have made history by becoming the second NHL club to begin a season with 13 wins in their first 14 games.

While not many may have picked the Jets as a legitimate contender for the Stanley Cup after their opening-round exit in the 2024 postseason, they have announced themselves as a genuine threat.

If they continue this momentum, it won't be long until fans envision them to be Canada's best chance to win the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.

#3. The Jets shut down Colorado's top offensive threats

While the Avalanche boast a bevy of offensive weapons, they couldn't find the net against the Jets.

Hellebuyck's shutout halted the scoring streaks of sniper Nathan MacKinnon and offensive defenseman Cale Makar; both players had begun the season registering at least one point in each of their first 13 games.

The Winnipeg Jets aim to keep their hot streak alive when they next hit the ice against the Dallas Stars on Saturday afternoon.