Winnigeg beat Colorado 7–6 in the first round of the playoffs. The fans labeled the Russian goalkeeper as a scapegoat.
Two years ago, the NHL champion Colorado Avalance had a tough time against the home team Winnipeg Jets in the first match of the opening round of the playoffs.
Colorado, which was still leading the match in the opening set, lost its grip on the game for good in the final set, when Winnipeg led first 6–3 and later 7–4. Although the visiting team managed to strike twice more, Winnipeg won the series opener 7–6.
Before the match series, Colorado’s clear uncertainty factor was considered to be the goaltending department. The number one goalkeeper Alexander Georgiev hasn’t been convincing lately, and in the first game of the playoffs, the Russian goalie couldn’t catch anything.
Out of the first ten shots, he managed to catch only six.
The club’s fans found Georgiev to be the scapegoat for the team’s upheaval. The 28-year-old goalie, who used to block pucks in TPS, stretched in front of the puck only 16 times, allowing all of Winnipeg’s goals behind him.
For example, in the X message service, all the comment fields of the updates published by Colorado received comments bashing Georgiev.
Among other things, many hoped that the season in question would be the Russian’s last in Colorado.
– This was his last game in the NHL
– Imagine if the Avalanche had a goalkeeper who could catch Rantapallo.
– Leave Georgiev at home and never let him wear this team’s jersey again.
Many, on the other hand, hoped that at the end of the series in the games, Colorado’s goal would be blocked by a youngster Justus Annunen, who got a lot of responsibility for the rest of the season. However, Annunen was completely sidelined for Sunday’s match due to illness.
For a long time, it has been difficult for Colorado to find a number one goaltender who could save at a good level year after year. Two years ago, when the club celebrated the championship, he served as the number one goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper.
Cohu player surprised
Artturi Lehkonen scored a goal and assisted one in the match. Scored 100 points for the second time in his career in the regular season Mikko Rantanen got two assist points.
In the matches played on Sunday night, Florida beat Tampa 3–2 and the New York Rangers beat Washington 4–1 in the opening game of their series.
Florida’s Finnish captain Alexander Barkov cover two input surfaces. In the Rangers game, the opening goal was scored by a real surprise name, known for his aggressive moves Matthew Rempe.
This season, Rempe, who was known for his fights among other things, had only scored one goal in the regular season. The fans of Rangers were ecstatic about the success of Rempe, who has gained the reputation of a certain kind of cult player.
The series of matches between Vancouver and Nashville also started. Nashville led the match in the second period 2–1, but the home team Vancouver eventually won 4–2. Nashville Juuse Saros made 17 saves.
Florida-Tampa 3–2 F: Barkov 0+2 Rangers-Washington 4–1
Winnipeg-Colorado 7-6 C: Lehkonen 1+1
C: Rantanen 0+2
C: Kiviranta 0+1 Vancouver-Nashville 4–2
N: Saros 17 torj.