The Colorado Avalanche tied their first-round series with the Winnipeg Jets in Game 2 Tuesday night.
There were doubts about starting Alexandar Georgiev in Game 2 after his poor performance in Game 1. However, Georgiev answered those questions, and the Avalanche skaters continued to outclass the Jets on both ends of the ice.
The Jets scored off a loose puck just 3:15 into the game, giving the first period an all-too-familiar feeling. However, that would be the only goal Georgiev allowed on 12 shots in the opening 20 minutes.
The Avalanche scored four times in the second period, with Miles Wood tying the game two minutes into the frame. Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele temporarily put the Jets back in front 2-1 with his second postseason goal.
However, Colorado scored three unanswered goals to close out the frame, with Artturi Lehkonen, Zach Parise, and Josh Manson all finding the back of the net. Valeri Nichushkin potted the empty-netter with 57 seconds left in regulation, giving the Avalanche a 5-2 victory.
Here are the key takeaways from Tuesday night’s game:
Georgie! Georgie! Georgie!
The biggest storyline going into Tuesday was Georgiev’s historically poor performance in Game 1. The biggest takeaway from Tuesday night is that Georgiev has fully redeemed himself. For now, anyway.
Saving 28 of 30 shots (0.933 save percentage) is beyond the most optimistic performance Colorado could hope for. After two goals, neither of which could be said to be the goalie’s fault, Georgiev locked in and didn’t allow anything from a Jets team that looked overmatched.
Georgiev definitively won the goal-tending battle in Game 2.
Helle-stunk
Hellebuyck recorded a .871 save percentage, saving 27 of 31 shots against. The Jets did their netminder no favors, surrendering 15 high-danger chances (via Natural Stat Trick) and being outshot in all periods save for the third when they were digging out of a two-goal deficit.
Georgiev’s struggles on the other end of the ice have overshadowed a narrative brewing for Winnipeg. Last year, Hellebuyck followed a phenomenal regular season with four straight losses, surrendering four or more goals in each loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
While Hellebuyck is likely to win the Vezina Trophy for the second time in his career, his 0.881 save percentage in the playoffs over the last two seasons has left much to be desired.
Kiviranta and The Manimal
On Tuesday, Josh Manson was the best defender not named Cale Makar. In 20:25 of ice time, Manson was a +4, with a beautiful breakaway goal and five blocked shots.
The surprise of this series has been the emergence of forward Joel Kiviranta. The injury to Jonothan Drouin has opened up the third-line right-wing slot, and Kiviranta has risen to the challenge.
The third line has not had much of an impact since Logan O’Connor was shut down for the year. In both games in Winnipeg, Kiviranta has checked hard and created big-time turnovers that led to goals for the Avalanche.
Kiviranta’s forechecking game and ability to draw penalties and find the net for himself or his linemates have been the depth Colorado lacked in last year’s series against Seattle.
Looking ahead
The Avalanche return home to host Game 3 of the series on Friday night, April 26, at 8:00 p.m. MST.
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