October 13th 2024.
The Colorado Avalanche's new season didn't start off on a good note as they encountered a goaltending crisis right from the get-go. In their first game of the season, goaltender Alexandar Georgiev was pulled for the second consecutive start, and his backup Justus Annunen didn't provide much relief either. This resulted in a disappointing 6-4 loss in their home opener at Ball Arena, leaving them with an 0-2 record in the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign.
Head coach Jared Bednar was quick to defend his starting goalie, stating that despite the frustration, Georgiev is their guy and has their full faith to bounce back and win games for the team. He also acknowledged that there are other areas of the team's game that need improvement.
Even the addition of a third goalie, Kaapo Kahkonen, to the roster after being claimed on waivers didn't make a difference in the team's performance. Georgiev let in three goals on just nine shots, and Annunen gave up two goals in the first eight minutes of his relief appearance. The Avalanche spent most of the game trying to catch up, much like their previous game against the Vegas Golden Knights, which ended in an 8-4 defeat.
It was a frustrating night for the Avalanche players, especially considering they managed to make it a close 5-4 game late in the third period before a penalty on Casey Mittelstadt sealed their fate. Star player Nathan MacKinnon, who had two points in the game, received a 10-minute misconduct penalty and was visibly upset, smashing his stick on the bench before leaving the ice.
Coach Bednar understood MacKinnon's outburst, stating that he was just frustrated with the result and didn't see it as a sign of a deeper issue. He also acknowledged that building trust and chemistry with a new team takes time and that the players need to channel their frustration in a more productive manner.
The Avalanche found themselves in an early hole in the game, with the Columbus Blue Jackets scoring twice on their first three shots. The first goal, a redirect by Zach Werenski, was not on Georgiev, but the next two goals were. Kent Johnson's shot from a difficult angle and Kirill Marchenko's goal, which Georgiev should have saved, put the Avalanche in a 3-1 deficit.
MacKinnon managed to score a goal late in the first period to bring the score to 3-2, and rookie Ivan Ivan also got his first NHL point on the play. However, Georgiev's struggles continued as he let in another goal on the first shot of the second period, leading to coach Bednar pulling him from the game. The team's frustration was evident, with defenseman Calvin de Haan and forward Miles Wood both visibly upset on the ice.
Annunen took over in goal but didn't fare any better, letting in a goal on the first shot he faced. The Blue Jackets extended their lead to 5-3 before the halfway mark of the game, and the Avalanche had now allowed a total of 13 goals in just two games. It's challenging to evaluate a team's performance when the goaltending is not up to par, making this a tough start to the season for the Avalanche.
Despite the disappointing start, Mittelstadt remains optimistic and believes that there are still many positives to take from the game. He also reminded his team not to overreact after just two games and to trust in their ability to go on a winning streak. Fans can stay updated on all Avalanche news by signing up for the Avalanche Insider, where they can get all the latest NHL analysis.
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