Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche Skate: Back To Georgiev, Coach Gabriel Landeskog
This should come as no surprise, especially given the situation with Justus Annunen, but the Colorado Avalanche are going right back to Alexandar Georgiev in Game Two.
Georgiev was in the starters net for morning skate, meaning he will be the guy who starts in net for the Avalanche. Whether or not he finishes the game is another question entirely.
Ivan Prosvetov got the call yesterday from the Colorado Eagles, and will back up Georgiev. He was in a great mood during morning skate, dancing in the net and keeping everyone on the ice loose. He’s a vibrant personality, but he’s also a guy who has NHL experience. That’s important for the Avalanche to have just in case things go sour on Tuesday night.
“He’s a more experienced guy, and he played well for us at times when he was up here,” Bednar said. “Since he’s gone down, he’s really played well for the Eagles and given them a chance. They were playing the other night in a big hockey game for our American League team, and that’s part of it. Now we need a goalie up here, so we brought him up.”
Justus Annunen is still not available to the team due to illness.
The Avalanche played as well as they possibly could in Game One, giving up just 23 shots on net, but they’re saying all the right things.
“There’s a lot of positives, for sure,” Mikko Rantanen said Tuesday morning. “I think seven goals against, so obviously there’s something that we can clean up in front of Georgie, try to help him a little bit more. Just the little mistakes were costing us in high-percentage, so try to clean up those and keep the same way in the attack.”
Captain Gabriel Landeskog took to the ice with the team, but not in any gear. He wore track pants and a hoodie, and was tapping guys on the shinpads and cheering for them when they scored. He’s not going to play this series, but the team likes having him around.
“I think he helps our team morale,” Bednar said. “Landy is just a great person, player, sort of extension of the coaching staff. A guy that anyone on our team can go to, lean on with any sort of issues. He has a really good understanding of our overall team concept game, attitude that we want to have. Been with us and won with us, and I think having him around, it’s just good for morale all around.”
Nathan MacKinnon Pre-Game Availability
Other News And Notes
- Jared Bednar said “we’ll see” when it came to Sam Girard’s availability, but do not count on him playing. He stayed out late and skated with the Black Aces, so I don’t expect him to step into the lineup. Caleb Jones filled in admirably in Game One.
- Coach was a man of very little words to the local media today. When I asked if he thought his team handled the physicality well in Game One, all he said was, “Yeah, I was.” I thought they handled it really well, and it’ll be something I’m interested to see if they can keep up. That’s why they went out and got guys like Brandon Duhaime and Yakov Trenin.
- Bednar said he did have a conversation with Georgiev this morning, but didn’t go into any detail on what was said.
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Can Landry play goal?! Career defining game for Georgiev. What’s it gonna be?!!!!
Is Winnipeg our daddy? Are they the Nuggets to the Avs Lakers? Tonight we find out…
Well Karl. The answer is known. The Jets were never our daddy.
He blows another game and his ass better be on a red eye flight back to Bulgaria.
Chris Wagner waived to go back to Loveland. Given no imminent return for Drouin does this mean Kovy to the Black Aces?
What about kovalenko
And Mikko gives the politically correct / self-deprecating answer that I’ve become so used to hearing…
Are goalies really that sensitive that they aren’t allowed to hear any criticism? I mean, how much more help can you give this guy?? And we will never hear any of the skaters say, “man, I wish tendy could give us a little help once in a while.”
Players don’t usually call each other out by name in public. Bednar has definitely said, “We needed a save.” Goaltending is voodoo, so yes I do think they are treated with kid gloves. If the Avs get to Hellebuyck early again, they just might be able to score their way out of their goaltending problems this game.
A good teammate will not criticize another player in public, as it serves no useful purpose. None of us know what is said behind closed doors.
Part of NHL culture – and a part that I love – is that you don’t praise yourself to the media and you don’t rip a teammate. In the dressing room there is room for criticism, if said the right way. Landy has that cache. I assume Nate and a few others do as well. But in front of a microphone? If you do that, you lose the trust of the entire team.
I just wish I could hear some truth. If not that, then nothing at all, or least a “no comment.”
We have not seen Bednar switch up the goaltender much in his years as Avs coach. He likes to stick with one guy as much as possible, He probably figures, once G loses the net, be it during the game or between games, the net is gone for the series. I would not have minded seeing Prosvetov tonight and seeing if he gets hot for a few games, but once a coach starts listening to the fans, they are destined to be sitting with them soon enough.
Dan, Bednar’s future with the organization may depend on this game and his choice of who’s between the pipes tonight. Fact is we didn’t let 7 goals in Sunday night so listen to us or don’t listen to us but they lose this one tonight and it’s gonna be a tough one to come back from.
There is not choice here. Even if Annunen were healthy, I think Georgiev gets the call. Benching your starter after one playoff game is a bit rash, and that is not Bedsy’s style. Prosvetov is viable if Georgie needs to be pulled, but you don’t put your Cup hopes in the hands of a guy who couldn’t keep the G2 job.
Can you put them into the hands of someone who just gave up 7 goals?