It has not been an ideal start for the Colorado Avalanche.
Not only is the team 0-4, but they have been getting heavily outscored thus far. Through the first four games, the Avs have allowed 25 goals, an average of 6.25 per game. While they have potted 13 goals as a team, their -12 goal differential is the worst in the NHL. They are one of two teams to have a goal differential in the double digits (the Edmonton Oilers have a -11 differential).
One of the players to point the finger at is goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. The Belgian netminder has started every game so far this season, but has been shaky to put it best. He was pulled from the first two games, allowing 17 goals after allowing four to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
So far, Georgiev has 5.79 goals-against average and an .800 save percentage. While the sample size is small, those numbers are from appropriate for a playoff contender.
That said, the Avalanche’s offense, which earned a reputation for winning barn-burners at the expense of less-than-stellar goaltender, has not been able to pick up the slack with Georgiev’s poor play.
On Thursday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk talk about the Avalanche’s inability to outscore their opponents is exposing problems between the pipes.
Frank Seravalli: [The Avalanche] are the team that proved a few years ago, 2021-22, that they can win the Stanley Cup with marginal goaltending. Here’s the thing, this team is different. Their depth has eroded at a significant way. Look at the lineup that they had on Wednesday night against Boston. Yes, Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog are big pieces to be missing, but how about also Jonathan Drouin and Arturri Lehkonen, and Devon Toews. Look at the group, this forward group is totally different than what you’re used to seeing in Denver.
They got some serious limitations in what they’re able to bring in and beef the this group up with…There’s really nowhere for them to go, so to think that if Alexandar Georgiev–Will he rebound? Yes. It’s going to take him a long time to get up to respectable numbers…I just think they’re in a world of hurt.
You can watch the full segment, and entire episode here…
