Alexandar Georgiev Stands On Head, Leads Avalanche To Victory In NY

NEW YORK – Alexandar The Great? Maybe that’s a bit premature, but this is the right thumbnail summary of the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 shootout win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night. Alexandar Georgiev really was great in leading the Avalanche to victory here, and how good must that have felt for the former New York Ranger?

“Real good,” Georgiev told ESPN right after the contest, a game broadcast to the nation (and even Denver Comcast subscribers).

Here’s how he looked right after too:

GEORGIEV IS DRESSED FOR REVENGE.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Qila7PGho2

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 26, 2022

Georgiev outplayed the man deemed the better fit for the Rangers’ future, Igor Shesterkin, in just a tremendous performance. Shesterkin’s misplay of a puck led to the Avalanche’s go-ahead goal, a short-hander scored by Logan O’Connor in the third period. While the Rangers got a tying marker from Adam Fox, the Avalanche pulled it out in the shootout on goals from Mikko Rantanen and Evan Rodrigues.

It was the Avalanche’s second straight road win and upped their record to 4-2-1 on the young season. Alexandar Georgiev finished with 44 saves. Shesterkin wasn’t chopped liver either, with 41 saves. But Georgie was better.

OTHER TAKEAWAYS/OBSERVATIONS

• Devon Toews made his return, and was excellent in his 26:26 of ice time. The Avalanche are just a calmer team with him on the ice.
• At the morning skate, Avalanche goalie coach Jussi Parkkila put both hands on Georgiev’s shoulder and looked him right in the eye and did some, what seemed like, motivational talking. That obviously worked, eh?
• Gotta hand it to Rangers fans – they sell out MSG every single time. Not a seat to be had tonight. And they were loud, too.
• The Avalanche went 1-for-3 on the power play and are 10-for-20 (50%) with the man advantage this season, the most power play goals and best power-play percentage in the NHL.
• Valeri Nichushkin scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season, tied with Andrei Svechnikov and Steven Stamkos for the league lead. Nichushkin’s first-period tally was his fifth power-play goal of the season, also tied (Stamkos) for first in the NHL.
• Nuke’s goal was a tip of Cale Makar’s blast from the point, on the PP.
• O’Connor scored two goals in a game at MSG last season, and got another here tonight.
• The Rangers always give the visiting media some kind of gift at a game. In my swag bag tonight was a Rangers blanket, some mints in a little can with a Rangers logo on it and a notebook with a Rangers logo on it. I gave it to a kid with a Rangers jersey on outside the arena after the game, and he was thrilled.
• Thanks to a couple of you who contributed to the Avs Travel Tip Jar for this trip (looking at you, Trevor Stephens and Josh Canfield). It’s always appreciated.
• Avalanche will practice Wednesday at the Prudential Center, and take Thursday off.
• Here’s how they saw things from a Rangers perspective (New York Post)
• “You knew they were going to get their chances with the talent and skill they got and the way they play,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant told the paper.