Avalanche playoffs
Pavel Francouz starts for Avs in Game 4

The right eye of Darcy Kuemper is still far too swollen for him to play tonight, so it’s Pavel Francouz in goal for the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 against the Nashville Predators.
Jared Bednar made that official just now. That’s as much lineup information as he’d give out – and I continue to say that’s a good, smart thing.
I think this is going to be a tough game for the Avs tonight, though I’ll still say they win. But I sense a letdown game in the works. We’ll see.
Connor Ingram will start in net again for the Predators. They have never been swept in the playoffs before.
Andrew Cogliano was out there in a regular sweater today, by the way. I won’t be surprised if he plays tonight.
DS’s prophecy of “a waste of 8 days” is aging well…
Sutter was wrong, it was actually only seven days…
i would imagine he was referring to spending the eighth day laying in bed eating comfort food and streaming classic disney animation…
Smart move with Frankie in net. I don’t think this will be letdown game. Based on past disappointments and current, high expectations (motivation,) I believe the Avs will be ready to play and close out this first round. I just don’t sense a lack of effort as the Avs know that anything can turn a series around and saving energy by playing less games is to their advantage. Play smart, withstand Nashville’s initial surge of energy and keep up the relentless attack on Ingram. Backcheck, backcheck, backcheck and don’t give the Predators any easy goals.
Yep, and forecheck hard with our speed. And do not get caught with headman passes. Frankie is far better prepared for this than Ingram. Ingram was a flash in the pan in game two. He will get shelled tonight! And yanked, if they have a legitimate backup (Saros).
Good decision to play it safe with Darcy. Frankie is a great goalie. Sure glad we have him around.
Frankie is a great goalie? LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLll!
Frankie is a great goalie, I believe that too. Not much of a dropoff going from Kuemper to Frankie, besides 5 inch height difference lol
If he was great he would not be a journeyman! Below average even for a backup.
Agreed. For Avs fans see no average, speak more average.
I think tonight is a GREAT night to test our confidence in Frankie for this playoff run. Yes, I’m braced for a “tough game” tonight, too. Could a change in goalie be the missing chink in our armor that loses us a game? Nashville’s needs us to falter; their best isn’t enough to beat our best. They need some combination of our defense to collapse, to shut down our top line, shut down points from our top D, weak goaltending, and no secondary scoring from anyone not 92/29/8/7. A win tonight, and we can rest and reload. I love the… Read more »
Improve the defense by removing Girard. Add in Jack. Or even MacD. LOC out. Breakout for Niko tonight. He is getting better every game.
You want improve the defense by playing at 5 defensemen instead of 6 😞
Girard is weak.
Hope they spend a few days firing about a 100 per day pucks full speed at him,
shoulders and above, or he is going to be gunshy.
Thanks AD for the update. COGS in for LOC is a no brainer. He ought to be flying tonight. Hope MacD is in. I sense hack and whack, versus clutch and grab back in the day.
I wonder if MacDermaid will suit up or not.
I would.
Will this be the spark the Avs need to close this out tonight? Team defense in front of their backup goalie is what is needed. Continue with the basics, minimize mistakes, and score on the power play.
Just putting this out there…Ryan Johansen is going to get hit by a bus soon. A real bus would be fine, but MacDermid would also do, I guess.
I would like to see Newhook get some run in tonight’s game. Any playoff experience he can get will serve him well in the long run.