Flurry of 2nd-period goals dooms Winnipeg Jets, as Avalanche even series with 5-2 win

Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and assist as the Colorado Avalanche scored three unanswered second-period goals en route to a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday that tied their first-round NHL playoff series at a game apiece.

The best-of-seven Western Conference matchup shifts to Denver for Friday's Game 3.

Miles Wood, Zach Parise, Josh Manson and Valeri Nichushkin, with an empty-netter, also scored for the Avalanche.

Alexandar Georgiev made 30 saves for Colorado, rebounding from his Game 1 performance when he allowed seven goals on 23 shots.

David Gustaffson and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced for Winnipeg in front of another sold-out crowd of 15,225 white-clad fans at Canada Life Centre.

The Jets led 1-0 after the first period, but Colorado mounted a 4-2 lead after scoring three goals in the final 5:37 seconds of the middle frame.

Winnipeg fans were razzing Georgiev from the get-go, giving the netminder a loud cheer when he made his first save of the game.

Georgiev was then beaten by Gustafsson 3:15 into the first period when he capitalized on a loose puck off a rebound and put it into an open net.

It was the fourth-line forward's first career playoff goal in his fifth career post-season game.

The Avalanche were down 9-2 in shots on goal near the 13-minute mark, but turned up the heat as the opening period ended with the visitors ahead 15-12.

Wood tied it at 1:59 into the second period when Ross Colton won a faceoff and sent the puck to him and he fired it past Hellebuyck.

The Avalanche soon went on a four-minute power play after Jets winger Kyle Connor received a double minor for high-sticking Cale Makar. Colorado only put one shot on net during the man advantage.

Winnipeg responded 32 seconds after the penalty expired when Scheifele raced to the net and redirected a pass from Gabriel Vilardi at 8:37.