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Colorado Avalanche netminder Alexandar Georgiev finished Game 1’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets with a .696 save percentage, allowing seven goals on just 23 shots in the opener of the team’s Western Conference first-round series.
The Avs just needed a save — on a few occasions — and didn’t get it from the Russian in the wild 7-6 loss. Georgiev struggled mightily down the stretch in the regular-season, and cannot seem to find his game in the playoffs either.
But the 28-year-old is staying positive ahead of Game 2, and he’s confident he can bounce-back at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday night.
“I feel eventually it is going to come,” he explained in regards to finding his game, according to NHL.com’s Tracey Myers. “They scored some really good goals, a couple lucky ones. You have to stay positive and try to find out what happened today and move forward. It’s only 1-0 in the series, so I’m looking forward to the next game.”
With virtually no other options — Justus Annunen was unavailable for Game 1 due to an illness, while backup Arvid Holm was sent down — it looks like the veteran will at least get one more opportunity as the starter.
Although Ivan Prosvetov was called up from Colorado of the American Hockey League, he has also struggled with the big league club in 2023-24. Prosvetov started eight games with the Avs in 2023-24, recording a middling 3.16 GAA and .895 save percentage over that span. Most likely, it will remain Georgiev’s net despite a hideous opening performance.
Avalanche can turn series around if Alex Georgiev can find his game
Obviously, the Russian cannot be allowing a touchdown every game if the Avalanche hope to get out of the first-round. That’s especially true with Vezina Trophy favorite Connor Hellebuyck at the other end of the rink, who allowed six goals of his own in Game 1 but still made 40 saves.
Still, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has faith that his team — and its starting goaltender — can rebound on Tuesday.
“Game 2 is going to be about mental toughness, right? Not just for [Georgiev], for our group,” the bench boss explained. “As positive as I’m going to be up here and sitting up here, we didn’t win the hockey game, but you have to be able to reset. If you’re dwelling on the past in the playoffs, then you’re not setting yourselves up for success the next night, and ‘Georgie’s’ no different. He’s got to reset and go play better than he did [on Sunday].”
The fact that Colorado scored six goals on Hellebuyck is encouraging for the franchise, as is the 46 shots they directed the American’s way. This is still a potent offensive core led by a Hart Trophy favorite in Nathan MacKinnon, and the Avalanche will not go away quietly.
And they have faith in Georgiev between the pipes, despite the on-ice product as of late.
“He’s our guy and obviously maybe he wants some back, but that’s on us,” forward Ross Colton said, per Myers. “We have to do a better job of eliminating the turnovers, boxing guys out in front, not giving them the Grade-A [chances] that they had. That’s for us to kind of clean up in front of him.”
The Avalanche and Jets will do battle in Manitoba on Tuesday night, with Colorado looking to take back home-ice advantage before the series shifts to Ball Arena in Denver later this week.
More must-reads:
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- The 'MLB Rookies of the Year' quiz
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