October 13th 2024.
The Colorado Avalanche's 2024-25 campaign got off to a rough start as they encountered a goaltending crisis just before the fifth period of the season. In their home opener at Ball Arena on Saturday night, they suffered a 6-4 loss, making it an 0-2 start for the team. It was certainly a frustrating night for the home side as they struggled to find their footing and secure a win.
The game started with goaltender Alexandar Georgiev being pulled for the second consecutive start, and his replacement, Justus Annunen, struggling in relief. Head coach Jared Bednar expressed his frustration, but also showed his support for Georgiev, stating that he has full faith in him and believes he has the ability and work ethic to bounce back and lead the team to victory. However, it was clear that the team had other areas of their game that needed improvement as well.
Even the arrival of a third goalie, Kaapo Kahkonen, via waivers did not spur any improvement from Georgiev and Annunen. Georgiev allowed three goals on nine shots, while Annunen let in two goals in his first eight minutes of relief. This left the Avalanche playing catch-up for most of the game, much like they did in their previous game against the Vegas Golden Knights, which ended in an 8-4 loss.
Despite the challenges they faced, the Avalanche managed to make it a close game, with a late goal bringing them within one point of the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, a penalty on Casey Mittelstadt effectively ended their chances of a comeback. To make matters worse, star player Nathan MacKinnon received a 10-minute misconduct after an empty-net goal against, and showed his frustration by smashing his stick on the bench before leaving the ice.
Coach Bednar acknowledged MacKinnon's outburst but also recognized the team's need to channel their frustration in a more productive way. He emphasized the importance of building trust within the new team and acknowledged that it would take time, but they needed to handle their frustrations better.
The game began with the Blue Jackets scoring two goals on their first three shots, quickly putting the Avalanche in an early hole. Although the first goal was not on Georgiev, the next two were, and he was pulled early in the second period. His replacement, Adam Fantilli, also struggled, letting in a goal on the first shot he faced. This prompted Bednar to call on Annunen, who also had a difficult start to his night in the net.
The Avalanche managed to bounce back and score two power-play goals, bringing them within one point of the Blue Jackets. However, their momentum was short-lived as Columbus quickly responded with two more goals, making it a 5-3 game. The Avalanche's struggles in the net were evident as they allowed a total of 13 goals in their first 100 minutes of play.
It's clear that the team has a lot of work to do, and it will be challenging without some key players who are currently missing. However, Mittelstadt remains optimistic, stating that there are still a lot of positive aspects of their game to build on, and they have a strong team that is capable of going on a winning streak. It's important not to overreact to just two games, and the Avalanche Insider is the perfect way to stay up-to-date on all the latest news and analysis for the team.
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