The set-up: The 3-4-0 Winnipeg Jets travel to Colorado to take on the 3-2-0 Avalanche on Friday. The Jets have had a tough, busy week which began when they hosted the Edmonton Oilers in The Heritage Classic on Sunday, the first outdoor game in franchise history. However, they lost that one 3-0, before splitting a home-and-home matchup with the Dallas Stars, losing at Dallas on Tuesday and beating the Stars 4-1 at home on Thursday. Meanwhile, Colorado hasn't played since last Saturday, giving the Avalanche plenty of time to prepare for their Central Division showdown Friday night.

Winnipeg: Rookie sensation Patrik Laine was the hero of Thursday's 4-1 win, scoring twice for his fifth and sixth goals of the season. Laine was the second overall pick in this year's draft and leads Winnipeg in both goals and points (eight). Winnipeg took the lead 15 seconds into Thursday's contest and never relinquished it, after playing while ahead for a total of only 17 minutes and two seconds during its first six games of the season.

Colorado: Mikko Rantanen is expected to make his season debut Friday after being recalled from the American Hockey League on Monday. The 19-year-old Finn, who was drafted 10th overall in 2015, suffered an ankle injury in September and missed all of training camp and the preseason before being assigned to the minors essentially for conditioning. Also, center John Mitchell, who missed the first five games with a hip injury, will likely make his season debut against Winnipeg and forward Rene Bourque is back after missing the last two games with a groin injury.

The pick: The Jets are really being tested here, playing their fourth game in six days while the Avalanche are back on the ice after a five-day rest. This also marks just Colorado's second home game of the season. The Avalanche opened the season with a 6-5 win over the Stars back on Oct. 15 but then went 2-2 on a four-game road trip, winning at Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. The Avalanche have a big edge in this one and I'll make them an 8* play.