Colorado Avalanche
Why Game Two Is The Most Important Game Of Georgiev’s Career
The Colorado Avalanche really don’t have any other options. Justus Annunen got sick at the absolute worst possible time, and Ivan Prosvetov hasn’t played an NHL game in months. They have no choice but to turn to Alexandar Georgiev to turn things around after one of, if not the worst game of his NHL career.
Buckle up. We’re going to find out a lot about the 28 year old goaltender tonight.
His Avalanche career almost certainly hangs in the balance. If things go poorly on Tuesday, it would be tough to see Colorado turning to Georgiev again in Game Three, especially if Annunen can get healthy. And if you pull the plug on him as your starter, it’s very difficult to put him back in at any other point in the playoffs.
It’s been a remarkable fall from grace for Georgiev. Last season, he was tremendous as the starting goaltender. Sure, he didn’t have the best first round against the Kraken, but you went into the summer thinking the Avalanche didn’t have to worry about finding a starting goaltender for at least one summer. Heck, I thought he’d improve on that and have an even better season this year.
It started out that way, as he was their MVP through the first four games. Things quickly took a turn, though.
The games where Georgiev was giving up 4+ goals a night were increasingly more frequent. In 32 of his final 58 starts, he finished with a save percentage below .900. That’s not a recipe for success. Just when it seemed like he was turning the corner and getting hot at the right time after the All-Star break, his game crumbled again.
In his last seven starts, including Sunday’s disastrous Game One, he has given up 33 goals. He didn’t even finish two of those starts, and let’s be honest, if Annunen was available on Sunday, I don’t think he would have finished that one either.
The Prosvetov recall on Monday sent a clear message to Georgiev – if you aren’t on top of your game, we now have options behind you.
This is far and away the most important game of Georgiev’s Avalanche career, and possibly his NHL career. He still has one year remaining on his contract, but if this doesn’t get better, how do you bring him back?
I’ll answer that for you – I don’t think you can. Everything that has happened this season is working against him. The deflating goals early in games, his inability to keep his cool, and the sub-par play in general. This is a team built to win right now, and they can’t waste any more time with a goaltender who can’t get the job done.
He just has to perform in Game Two. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
This is a tremendous opportunity for Georgiev. He can play well and shut everyone up, at least for a few days. Avalanche fans would love for that to happen. If the opposite scenario plays out, there’s a good chance he’ll be wearing a different uniform next season. Nobody is asking him to steal a game, but he can’t lose them one, which is what happened in Game One.
This is why they play the games and why the playoffs are so compelling. How mentally tough is Alexandar Georgiev? We’ll find out the answer soon enough.
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I think the bigger question is if there is any long term hope for the Avs in these playoffs if Georgiev doesn’t suddenly get it back together? Of course we’ve seen Cinderalla stories of obscure goalies like Binnington, Adin Hill. Cam Ward – even reaching back to Hextall or Roy in his rookie season – catching fire in the playoffs but all of those guys had signifcantly more experience than Annunen. I have a difficult time envisioning Annunen beating, say, Winnipeg, Vegas, Edmonton and the Rangers all in a row. We better hope the Georgiev who won the goalie competition… Read more »
If they play like they did in game 1 and get around a .900 save %, they can absolutely make a deep run. If that’s AG improving or Juice getting the nod, either of them is capable of that number (Annunen is my choice). Health is obviously a big factor as well…need Sammy and JDru back ASAP.
I didn’t have high expectations heading into game 1. And wasn’t the least bit surprised he melted down. Not sure how anybody could’ve been. It was a recipe for disaster take an immensely fragile goalie, who has gotten progressively worse as the season progressed. Who also happens to be a fundamentally broken. And throw him into a pressurized environment on the road. I feel for the players & am sick for all involved not named Georgiev or Jared Bednar. People shouldn’t act surprised when he shits the bed again tonight. And it will happen, mark my words. Unless the team… Read more »
For love of God. Play kovalenko
The thing is even if he has a great game tonight, how we can we be confident that he will back that performance up in game 3? I for one am out on him and his future as an Av unless he becomes the epic hero of these playoffs. Time will tell, but I suspect the scouting staff is already hard at work.
I think Georgie’s toast. The only consistent aspect of Georgie’s goaltending this year is his inconsistency. It’s too much pressure on a player whose nerves are shot. As much as I’d like to see him come back, I’m afraid it won’t happen long term. Yes, the Avs might squeak out a win tonight with stellar play but how long will effect last with Georgiev? It started out so well but will end badly. The Rangers came to that conclusion a while ago. The Avs got one, good year from Georgie. It’s probably the beginning of the end of his time… Read more »
There was no reason to not play Holm after the 3rd goal on Sunday. Who cares about inexperience? He gets his shot out of nowhere because Juice sick and IP starting in Loveland. Worst case, he plays bad and we don’t win. Fact is, Bednar never considered it and I see him sticking with AG for the entire playoffs (3 more games) even if it costs him his job. Just because Evan writes a story, doesn’t mean this is AG last chance.
If they thought Holm would have been an adequate option, he would still be with the team.
You completely missed my point, which was Bednar was never pulling AG no matter who backup was, but he should have. It is now end of 1 in game 2 and I am now hoping for a never before seen coaching change in the middle of a game. Leaving first unit out with a face off and 13 seconds left on PP almost cost the game. I did think he was a good coach who had lost the room. Now I just don’t even see a good coach anymore.
I think he would have pulled him after the 4th if Annunen was healthy, but we’ll never know.
I hope he passed the audition.? 2 goals allowed on 30 shots (.933 sv%), and many of them high danger in the 3rd period, seems like he saved his and Bednar’s ass too! I can’t believe all the chatter about Bednar’s job on the line if the Avs lose this series…
Decent! Now we just need the same full team participation for 15 out of the next 26 possible games. Simple, right?
Maybe, hopefully, I will wrong about a first round out.