Playoff Preview: The Puck Stops Here

2 weeks ago  /  Mile High Hockey

Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images


What happens in goal will likely decide this series. Easily the biggest storyline heading into this first round match between the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets is what to expect in net. It is the greatest factor which could swing this series and it hinges on what kind of goaltending shows up.
Connor Hellebuyck
The Jets won’t have much of a decision to make when it comes to who to put in net when the puck drops on this series. Connor Hellebuyck has been their rock and biggest superstar on their team. He won the Vezina Trophy in the 2019-20 season and was a finalist two other occasions. This year the goalkeeper is headed to a likely nomination and win as well with a record of 37-19-4, 2.38 Goals Against Average and .922 save percentage. Going deeper shows that his Goals Saved Above Average leads the league at 31.65 which is why Winnipeg was able to ascend to second in the Central Division.
Hellebuyck isn’t infallible though, as the Vegas Golden Knights were able to win their first round match against Winnipeg last season even after a regular season he played as a Vezina finalist. The stats weren’t pretty with a 1-4 record in the series, a 3.44 GAA and .886 save percentage. Certainly participating as a wild card team to the eventual Stanley Cup champions was a big part of it but it shows a full team effort can break through the brick wall. Also, lifetime against Colorado Hellebuyck is 13-7-4 with a 2.95 GAA and .912 save percentage and three shutouts, which is still solid but not as overall dominant as the elite netminder has been.
It is unlikely that Hellebuyck will vacate the net but if for any reason the Jets need another option their backup Laurent Brossoit has been more than adequate with a 14-5-2 record, 2.00 GAA and .928 save percentage on the season.
Alexandar Georgiev?
Everyone pretty much knows what to expect in net from Winnipeg and the opposite is true for the Avalanche. Their starting netminder has been up and down this season due to a troubling number of occasions with goals given up in bunches. Georgiev has also had some nice moments too and leads the league with 38 wins, one more than Hellebuyck. But the statistics aren’t pretty with a 3.00 GAA and .897 save percentage plus a -12.05 GSAA means that Georgiev needs to start with the slate clean in the playoffs.
He has the talent all along and had a strong season last year with a .919 save percentage, 2.51 GAA and 40 wins so the ability he has is not lost but Georgiev will need to focus and stop the bleeding when a bad bounce doesn’t go his way. Though his adversary in net leads the league in goals saved above expected as well at least Georgiev has trended positive on this front.


MoneyPuck

The wild card for the Avalanche is going to be what impact, if any, Justus Annunen has on this series. How long is Georgiev’s leash if he doesn’t bounce back quickly and is Jared Bednar willing to give Annunen a game if the series turns Winnipeg’s way? Those are all critical questions that will likely shape the complexion of this series.
Annunen has performed well as backup to Georgiev this second half of the season with eight wins in 14 games plus a 2.25 GAA and .928 save percentage. No doubt many will want to see if he can ascend to greatness and steal a series for Colorado but Annunen also hasn’t been tested against many playoff quality opponents and in big games so hoping the coaching staff hinges their “Cup or Bust” season on him after acting fairly ambivalent towards him for the majority of his career is a big ask. Still, when the chips are down someone has to make a bet and we’ll see what is the ultimate decision. Clearly Plan A is just for Georgiev to play well and make life easier for everyone. ...

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