Flynn’s Daily: Goaltending’s Impact on the Avalanche

The Avalanche had a solid practice on Saturday following a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals the night before. I played the part of analyst asking what went wrong, how it was dealt with and how the team is moving on from the defeat. I got some insightful answers that clarified how resilient this team is.

Head coach Jared Bednar said the team had an off night overall, but goaltending was an issue. Justus Annunen started the game and gave up two goals on the first two shots which changed the game’s dynamic. He was pulled after allowing a third goal on the sixth shot of the game and was replaced by Trent Miner.

“I think that the goaltending last night zapped a little bit of our emotional energy and stole a chance for us to get our legs,” Bednar said after practice on Saturday.

Colorado’s coach explained the importance of goaltending and his team’s reaction to its engagement. He’s a “no excuses” coach, which defines why the Avalanche are strong as a fully functioning unit. Watch the full interview below.

Mikko Rantanen said they could have done more to help Annunen but that it was an overall team failure.

“As players, we could do something to prevent that also. And sometimes it goes like that, it’s unfortunate for the goalie,” Rantanen said. “Sometimes you don’t face a lot of shots, and then first two go in, and maybe, confidence, but it is what it is. He’s still a great goalie. I think everybody had an off night — myself had an off night. Probably all the 20, 20-plus guys from whatever we had in the locker room — we were not as sharp as usual. We all have to bounce back.”

Day-After Loss Practice Proves Worthy

The Avs had an energetic hour-plus-long practice on Saturday, which Rantanen said was better than the team played in the previous night’s game.

“We had a good practice today. Execution was pretty good today, better than yesterday,” Rantanen said.

There was a method behind Bednar’s approach to have such a detailed, intense practice that was not optional. The only player missing was Devon Toews who took a maintenance day, which Bednar said he would have as he continues to battle nagging issues.

“There was an intensity to it, and the speed and pace to it, attention to detail, the execution,” Bednar said. “If we didn’t have that early in the game, and then we couldn’t get it back throughout the game, it means we weren’t as close as we wanted to be in that game. So you got to practice that, practice those habits, and develop those habits. And today was a great start in it.”

Jonathan Drouin shifted from starting on the second line with Casey Mittelstadt and Valeri Nichushkin to the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen. As a veteran, he’s capable of shifting wherever his coach plays him but Bednar said he is experimenting with how different combinations pan out.

Around the NHL

Philly Hockey Now: Former long-time Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson played his 1,000th career game against the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night but said he will celebrate when the Avalanche play the Flyers.

EJ, as he’s well-known, spent 13 seasons with the Avs and won his one and only Stanley Cup in burgundy and blue in 2022. No doubt it will be an emotional matchup with Colorado on Monday.

Florida Hockey Now: The Panthers shut out the No. 1 team in the NHL 5-0 in Sunrise, Florida on Saturday night. Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves in his first shutout since Game 21 of the Stanley Cup Final. He finished third in Vezina Trophy voting to Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck and was outstanding between the pipes. Read the full recap: Take Off, Eh: Florida Panthers Unload on Winnipeg Jets

More Avalanche News

• Flynn’s Daily: ‘Lot of Good Emotions’ for Valeri Nichushkin
• Good & Bad: Parker Kelly Scores 1st of Season, Goaltending Fails in Loss to Capitals
• Avalanche’s Energy Up with Gabriel Landeskog on the Ice
• Alexandar Georgiev Out with Upper-Body Injury