Avalanche Locker Room: ‘Outstanding’ Georgiev Has Been Building Towards This Performance

Alexandar Georgiev‘s numbers have been a little bit better of late for the Colorado Avalanche, but not as great as he would like. Still, he’s put up some solid performances in the last two weeks.

On Monday night, it all came together for him, as he stopped 37 of the 38 shots sent his way.

After the game, Georgiev was asked about how he played, how his team played, and yes, about his fresh new look.

In addition, read what Jared Bednar had to say after his team took down the Lightning by a score of 4-1.

Alexandar Georgiev

Georgiev on if he thinks his game has been building towards Monday:

“I feel it’s been pretty good lately. It just didn’t get a little better results, maybe, but I feel like they would come and tried to focus on my game, analyze what happened, and keep moving on.”

Bednar on the improvement of the second line for the Avalanche:

“I think all those guys are improving in different areas, which makes their line more effective, but they’re working together as a connected group better than they were earlier on in the season.”

Bednar on if he liked his game overall:

“Absolutely. Great team. I liked our game. We had a couple of big breakdowns that I didn’t like. But for the most part, I felt like we were checking and doing the right things and playing hard. The offensive side of it, they can make it real difficult, especially o-zone play. They’re one of the best teams in D zone coverage right now. And then feels like you break them down, even a third period, we break them down a couple times on entries and in their D zone, we’re walking right down the slot and they get a big block, right? And then it’s tough to beat Vasilevsky too. So, they got something to say about it, but I liked ourgame on both sides of the puck today. We win the special teams battle again. You know, We did give up quite a number of shots. But I think they’re trailing in the game and they’re throwing it to the net from all areas and we took care of the rebounds pretty well, protected the slot, we had some big blocks and I thought that’s the second game in a row now we got great goaltending.”

Bednar on if Georgiev’s game has been building to this performance:

“Yeah. I feel like he’s given us some real good starts here recently. I think tonight is probably the best. That was an outstanding performance in goal, I thought.”

Bednar on the special teams dominance from the Avalanche of late:

“If you look at the last eight games, we have a powerplay goal in every game. And PK’s only allowed two, I think, in the eight games, so it’s a huge part of winning. When you’re getting quality saves and quality starts from your goaltenders, when you’re checking hard and you’re producing enough offense, it often comes down to special teams, and if we’re winning that battle every night, you’re going to give yourself a real good chance to win.”

Bednar on Ryan Johansen finally scoring at even strength now for the Avalanche:

“You’re not going to score on all your chances. I feel like he is’s skating a little bit better through the neutral zone and even tonight, on the one, they make a play in d-zone, I think it was Drouin, and then Johansen busts out of the hole and draws a powerplay for us. That speed through the neutral zone and him kind of getting up to speed with us, and the whole line getting better at managing the puck and working as a connected group, it’s helping. It’s all three new players playing on that line and it can take a little bit, especially for skill guys, to get to know each others’ tendency. I think it’s coming and they’re doing a better job of it here recently and obviously, he’s a big part of that.”