Avalanche News
Good & Bad: Poor Goaltending, Execution in Avs Loss to Lightning
The Avalanche’s multi-game win streak disastrously came to an end in the 8-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday night. The defeat was a complete 180 from the full team effort 7-4 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
Ivan Ivan was the only Avalanche player to find the back of the net and goaltending was a mess. The team battled at some points to stay in the game but never found a way to get into a rhythm. Colorado broke down and played more in survival mode than on the attack for a chance at a comeback.
Mikko Rantanen Earns NHLโs 2nd Star of the Week
Seven different Tampa Bay shooters lit up either Justus Annunen or Alexandar Georgiev โ and only a few were unstoppable. On the other end of the ice, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves on 25 shots.
The Bolts dominated from the start and were more aggressive than the Avalanche, who failed to execute on both sides of the puck.
“Our minds weren’t in. It felt like at some points, our body wanted to do the right thing, and just our execution was bad. We were just slower than them to every puck. That’s just kind of the way the night went,” Cale Makar said.
Good: Ivan Ivan’s Goals
Not much good came out of the Avalanche’s loss other than Ivan’s two goals.
His first was from Valeri Nichushkin’s shot rebound at 11:04 in the first. Ivan scrambled in front of the net with two Lightning players to grab the loose puck and shove it past Vasilevskiy.
The 22-year-old’s second goal in the third period was a shot right down the lane that Vasilevskiy stopped but the rebound bounced off Brayden Point’s skate and slid past the goalie.
“I think it was a positive for me. But other than that, it was unacceptable the way we played,” Ivan told Altitude TV after the game. “I know it was the last game in the road trip, but this is not the way we wanted to end the road trip.”
Bad: Goaltending and Execution
Annunen allowed three goals on six shots before being pulled and replaced by Georgiev in the first period. The team broke down in front of Georgiev on several plays which led to another three goals. Bednar put Annunen back in for the third period where he allowed two more.
“Didn’t love to start from Juice (Annunen) so go to Gorgie (Georgiev). If we could, because we had a little jump and got a couple chances in the first period where I thought that game was still in reach, and then it wasn’t. So then we went back to Juice and give Gorgie some rest …,” Bednar said. “Then once it got out of reach, I didn’t want to leave Gorgie in, so it is what it is. But he competed hard in the net. I can’t fault him on any of those goals.”
Ivan had the most shots on goal with five and the next highest was three from Joel Kiviranta. There was a disconnect with the team as a whole which caused a breakdown in the Avs’ system.
“I just felt execution for us wasn’t there tonight, and then again, just drifting into the wrong places and defensively, just not there for us,” Makar said.
This is a game that needs to be addressed immediately and forgotten just as quickly.
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What Makes Nikolai Kovalenko a ‘Dangerous’ Player
Good & Bad: Full Team Effort in Avalanche Win
Good & Bad: Poor Goaltending, Execution in Avs Loss to Lightning
Avalanche’s Miles Wood Placed Back on IR; Chris Wagner Recalled
Avalanche Acquire Goaltender Scott Wedgewood From the Nashville Predators
Flynn’s Daily: How Avs Need to Move on from Loss; Montgomery Debuts as Blues New Head Coach
You said it, just a forgettable game that you take a few lessons from and move on to the next. To quote “Ted Lasso”: “Sometimes you play a game so bad, the only way to watch it back is at ten times the speed and with the Benny Hill theme music playing under it.” That was this game for the Avs. It did suck that Drouin was a late scratch, hopefully it’s not anything that keeps him out as long as before. Then I was surprised that de Haan got the call over Kylington, given that the latter seemed to… Read more »
Yes the ShillingKillington decision by the freak Bednar made no sense.
I’m telling you avs should trade for ferraro and blackwood.
Does the avs trust Annunen as there goalie of the future or even as a backup? I think rolling with blackwood and georgiev would be ideal for now. Trade annunen to sharks.
Ferraro is a way upgraded version of de Haan and girard mixed together. Well little bit of girard.
Dumping Kaapo Kรคhkรถnen was brain dead. The Avs dumb brass had too short of a leash. One game and done. I wish MacTO was done as well as Lazydog. This team has the best offensive defenseman in the leage, yet has a goal differential of -5. The lazy bastards do not want to play defense, forecheck, et. They want to play cherry pick hockey for $13MM. Disgusting!
Yeah, let’s trade all our bad guys for all their good guys. Sounds like the plan to me.
Amnesia was immediate with these jokers. Bednar needs to go. Bring in a hard ass to get the best of these lazy asses!
Now one goal in last 10 for the not-so-great Nate. Again, not even a SOG but plenty of forced turnovers as Mr. Assist tries to find his way. The Avs organization is a joke. Pandering to cry babies, drunks, and shirtless hair models.
Disgrace!
Why are you a fan then
Why are you?
He’s not. He’s a troll. Just ignore him.
I wasn’t able to see this game but I find some things very disconcerting. I will start with the 1 positive, it was a great road trip getting 6 of 8. This team takes way too many nights off. Some nights they find a way to win without playing well, but winners cannot only show up about 70% of the time. These kinds of efforts need to be like 1 in 20. Looking at the box I find it just crazy that the Avs did not take a single frustration penalty. Where is the team pride? Most teams, when getting… Read more »
Very well said. De Hannโs physical effort against the TB player screening our goalie on the first goal exemplifies the pretty boy nature of the Avs.
The management wonks need to get off their asses and beg/borrow/steal an NHL-caliber goaltender. The current frauds are unacceptable and have been the whole damn season.
The hotshots need to get going. I look at the sog column and the hotshots are dry. Get a goaltender.
so confusedโฆ.
29capstrung. This was easily predictable once MacTO’s demend to be the highest player in the league. Trade for Barkov, save $2.6M.
After the cup win and landy out it’s been downhill. There is zero leader ship on this team. We are wasting mack makar moose prime years. This team should’ve had 3 cups already. Alot of the team went rogue. Injuries and crappy goaltending isn’t helping. The front office needs to shake up this team. They need help on defense and goaltending so why not do package deal of ferraro and Blackwood for Annunen kylington foudy 2nd rd. Then avs should trade for brazeau from bruins. Trade wood and 26 1st rd to Philly for frost With drouin and colton out… Read more »
Stop with your delusional fairyland trades. None of the teams would agree to the 3 proposed trades you mentioned.
You stop with your mal critiques.
Not necessarily. It’s not like San Jose is ultimately going anywhere this season.
That’s a ridiculous reason for the Sharks to take our junk for their good players.
Coming from the guy who said Byrum would never be traded straight across for Mittelstadt. ๐ค No mate, it isn’t.
Both goalies are trash! We won the Cup despite Keumper, but these guys suck next level. Horrible. Avs management knows it too, but due to zero cap space weโre stuck with these low energy sieves.
Yes indeed, MacTO doomed the team. He is not carrying the team. Pitiful seven goals (one five-on-five) is now .3 GPG. Sure his is a bull rush player, but those highlight reel goals happpen a time of two per year. Trade for Barkov, if FLA is dumb enough to do it!
End the Lazydog drama, prepare for Valisnaya to recur. Ugly!
Kuemper and Francouz weren’t the headcase Georgiev is. Annunen, well, we’ll see, especially after this loss.
They should have left Juice in there for at least 15 goals. Gutless performance. Mentally and physically weak team. Major trade winds approaching? Or, the usual head in sand from Avs management? I see no end in sight to the lack of commitment defensively and the substandard goaltending.
Rica we agree. In 2022 the Avs lost 19 in regulation, they are almost there with 60 games remaining. The system the stubbons want to play if poppycock! But they are stuck with one way forwards who do no want to play D and a D-corps who do not want to play D and a G-corps pays the price. Kaapo was a better choice than Juice. But like any goalie it is brutal to come in cold and stop the puck. Vegas and Dallas will be a good test. Avs could end November at .500. And MacTO not playing defense… Read more »
These are some of the most hyperbolic, sky is falling non – sensical comments in the history of Colorado hockey now lol. It’s November. There’s 60 games left. The goaltending issue will be addressed at some point in the not too distant future. But most teams aren’t actively looking to trade starting caliber goaltenders this early in the season. I think what the Avs are also probably waiting on is for the 7 million dollar man to figure out when & if he’s going to try & play. That will give them a lot more clarity as to what they… Read more »
Every point matters mate. Many seem to forget the Avs have indeed missed the playoffs by a point or two in the past.
Landeskog’s endless “possible” return is the driving force behind nothing really being done about hole’s in the Avs lineup. When Landeskog “does” return, the team has no cap space for more than the minimum players. Replacing someone with someone who has a higher cap hit, will only make the issue worse. Until the Avs decide that winning now is more important than a possible Landeskog return, it really is money in=money out. I do not think the issue is with the top 6, but with the continued lack of depth in the bottom 6. Colton is the only real offensive… Read more »
I think Mack is fine. He definitely needs to look to shoot more. But he looks healthy to me. I think from what I recall you & I are on the same page regarding the Landy situation. Love the guy as a hockey player. He’s been a great captain, etc, etc, etc. But the situation needs resolution. And the only legitimate critique I have of the Avs as an organization is how they’ve essentially given him an open ended time table to try & come back. The stakes for this team are too high, being smack in the middle of… Read more »
๐ฏ agree! The inconsistency is frustrating but lots of amnesia in these comments. Last game the Avs put 6 goals on Bubrovsky and the Panthers, the reigning cup winners! I don’t criticize Bednar often but I think he mishandled the goalies. Keeping Annunen in net was painful but the whole point of playing your backup is to give the starter a rest. Last night was a stinker which happens but Georgiev was just starting to regain his confidence and I hope it’s not a back slide for him
Valid critiques regarding how they’ve handled the goalies (last night & lately). In terms of playing time, starts, etc.
Personally I’m not too concerned with Georgiev’s confidence at this point. They’ve been coddling him for the last year & a half. He clearly doesn’t have the mental makeup or consistency to be a quality NHL starter.
The Avs just have to make due with a pretty lackluster goalie tandem, until they can make an upgrade via trade.
Look at last 5 games of mackinnon. He’s been MIA
It’s called a slump. Literally every great hockey player in the history of the world has had multiple during their career. And most of them weren’t able to STILL lead the league in points while going through a slump. Also, the Avs are 3-2 during those five games you mentioned, and playing teams all currently high in the standings.
He hasn’t been MIA. You talk as if he’s had no impact at all, like he’s Parker Kelly or Kiviranta lol.
He hasn’t been his usual dominant self true. But the guy is still going crack 130 pts barring injury. And probably be a hart finalist again. How much more do you want or expect?
Was there 2 rows behind the Avs bench last night. We have to trade for a goalie now. These performances from Annunen and Georgie are way to frequent and the team just quits when they happen. If a first round pick is required then use it. Can’t keep going with these 2 in net IMO.
There is no doubt that Juice sucked last night. Wasn’t it just last month some on here were saying he should start over Georgie? Why did Bednar even start Juice though? Georgie finally found a rhythm, for once he hasn’t played every single game at this point in the season and him being tired should not be an issue. Just stupid mind games that this coach likes to play from time to time. Totally killed the positive vibes from what was a solid road trip. But I will continue to scoff at those who blame every single goal on the… Read more »
Actually what’s lazy is spouting off without looking at any stats. Avs are dead last in the NHL in save % that has zero to do with empty net goals. We sit at .870 right now just putrid. Juice gave up 5 goals on 16 shots. Expected goals against in the 1st was 1.08 to .97. The actual score was 5-1. Just muffins allowed in. Then Georgie comes and throws a temper tantrum, he isn’t good enough to be showing up his teammates. Last night is a repeatable effort we have seen at least 8 or 9 times this year.… Read more »
You make good points Brad not going to dispute them except that the Avs are not showing up the first ten minutes of every game. Itโs unreasonable to ask your goalie to bail you out every game for half the first period. TBโs first goal was a good shot to the far side with Juice having two players completely screening him. Thatโs just bad defense for allowing the screen, contributing to the screen, and for allowing the shot
Fair enough on the first goal…so many went in I lost track. It was so bad the TB fans around me asked if Juice was just called up due to injury. I’ll leave it at this, the Avs as a whole need to be more consistent, but I will be very surprised if the goalie that starts the bulk of the season is currently on the roster.