Avalanche News
Good & Bad: Alexandar Georgiev Stellar in Avs Win Over Caps
Alexandar Georgiev played one of his best games of the season in the Avalanche’s 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena Thursday night. The 28-year-old netminder made 30 saves against the top goals-per-game average team in the league.
“It’s a really, really good team that we just faced. One of the top offenses and overall in the league,” Georgiev said after the game. “It’s great effort by the guys to get the two points. It was a big win, for sure.”
Washington struck first with three minutes left in the first period on a goal from Pierre-Luc Dubois. Tom Wilson grabbed a loose puck in the corner and threaded it over to Dubois right in front of the net. Georgiev had no chance with no one defending in front of him.
The Caps doubled the number of Avalanche shots in the first period, but the middle frame was all Colorado who outshot Washington 12-3.
The Avs’ tying goal was credited to Mikko Rantanen on the power play at 5:41 in the second. Rantanen grabbed the puck from Jonathan Drouin and slid it across the ice, which hit Matt Roy’s skate, and got past Logan Thompson.
Miles Wood led the team in shots on goal (5) but netted the game-winner on a deflection from a Cale Makar shot three and a half minutes into the third period.
It was a scramble in the end but the team held on in front of Georgiev to get the win.
Good: Alexandar Georigev
Georgiev was activated off the injured reserve list Thursday morning and looked like he didn’t miss a beat since his last game. The Russian netminder made big saves and played a solid 60 minutes.
The Caps made a huge push in the final minutes of the game but Georgiev stood tall and protected the lead to secure the win.
“You’re expecting the big push from them, and just trying to read and be in good position,” Georgiev said. “Battle kind of โ you just survive. Survive the push.”
Good: Depth
It was another full-team effort from the Avalanche with goals coming from the top power-play unit and the fourth line. The Avs defended hard and blocked 18 shots to keep the puck out of the net.
Head coach Jared Bednar said he liked the effort from all four lines in the win.
“Our team’s found a little bit of rhythm here recently. Hasn’t been perfect, that’s for sure, and we needed Gorgie (Georgiev) tonight more than I would have liked, but we found a way to get a win as a team, and all four lines are contributing to that,” Bednar said.
Bad: Inconsistency and Faceoffs
There were good and bad plays in every period which Bednar did not like. The Avs had 17 giveaways and only one takeaway and allowed the Caps dangerous rush chances.
Washington dominated in the dot winning the majority of the faceoffs. Nathan MacKinnon took the most faceoffs, 19, but only won seven of them. Casey Mittelstadt won five of 13 and Parker Kelly was three for 15.
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Say what you want but luckily georgiev was on his game. The avs left him out to dry so many times.
I dont think avs have goaltending issue.
I think the defensive structure is more a issue
Georgie saved the Avs bacon tonight. And both goaltenders have been inconsistent. I thought the Avs forwards did not get back in time and left Georgie to face many point blank shots. But he tracked the puck real well throughout the game. A nice road win.
It’s not just this game, look at other homes where the avs had defensive lapse.
Do you know if de Haan is hurt
Avs ‘style’ is lame. They are a horrible defensive team especially the forwards. 29 stands around and watches more than anything. The style needs to change but they will be too stubborn. If the next three 20 game sets are as pitiful, kiss the playoffs goodbye!
You ain’t lying. The avs style is high octane offense. They are not well balance team. They rely more on offense to score and then lay back just like last night
Caps kept peppering them for 10 min straight and luckily georgiev was on his game.
Well, MacTO improved since the last Capitals game. A week ago versus Capitals Mac$13M had all zeros inlcuding zero SOG. Tonight, it was all zeros but three SOG. Nice work. One goal in last eight games. Impressive!
Russell Wilson can relate.
Did Mackinnon sleep with your wife or something? You have a very weird, over the top hatred for a man who is the clear 2nd best player in the league.
I am gay, so no!
But MacKinnon definitely sleeps in your head.
I hate to see the team fail at the expense of his bank account! Greed is not good!
He was like this toward Paul Stastny on the old Denver post boards years ago too.
Enough of your garbage, get lost
XO!
Trolls must have a lonely existence since they need to post to release anger and get attention, albeit negative
What I stated was pure fact. Sorry it triggered you!
You mad cause trump is your daddy
No Biden is hence my mental incapacitation. Hunter, Joe, and I have snorted thousands of lines too!
Two things stand out to me, and have for basically the entire season. Futility on faceoffs and an inability to clear the puck from the defensive zone. Both of these lead to way more chances by the opposition than there should be, and they both detract from the Avs offensive chances. It’s literally every game.
Those issues make me a little crazy too.
“Nathan MacKinnon took the most faceoffs, 19, but only won seven of them.”
And that my friends is why he makes to big bucks! Maybe he should swap sweater numers with Mittelstadt? As in 37 percent…
7 of 19 may be mediocre but it was the best on the team last night. One player shouldn’t be expected to lead the team in every category.
LOL, he leads in comp time to step up! He is pitiful on FOW, defense, leads in turnovers, have on 5-5 goal, and one in eight. I think he needs to do better!
Well, got the win, but far be it from the type of dominating win I was hoping to see. Apart from Georgie, Avs didn’t seem interested in a playing the first period. Got better in 2nd and through first part of the third and then just collapsed to finish to the game. So many breakaways allowed, so many defensive lapses. Manson particularly terrible. Terrible defense by Drouin on Caps’ lone goal. Kudos to Girard for muscling up Wilson in the third and preventing a scoring chance though. PK and face-offs continue to be a concern. I was really feeling the… Read more »
Well said!
๐ฏ couldn’t have said it better.
Me either!
In 19 games WSH has been shut out once by TBL and held to two goals twice. This was WSH’s first one goal game all season. All credit to Georgiev keeping us close in the first 30 mins. Lost track of 2v1 saves he made and his glove is much improved of late.
It might be good to remember that this is only the third game this season with a mostly healthy lineup. It might be good to be a little patient as they find some chemistry and get used to playing together again. Yes, the face offs and turn overs suck and need to improve. Yes, they need to start games better and play a full 60 too, but it will get better. It was good to see Goergiev play good hockey last night too. I think the Avs will be ok and how far they go in the playoffs depends on… Read more »
Sure, until the next injury bug bites. Eggs in one 29 basket!
Great game report, Colleen! You hit every important takeaway and did it succinctly and with good style. Great job.
Wow, we were treated to the full Miles Wood experience in that game.