Preseason Recap: Avalanche drop final game to Utah, finish 1-5
Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche lost another nailbiter as the regular season is set to begin Wednesday night. The Colorado Avalanche concluded their final preseason game with a second defeat to the Utah Hockey Club.
Following a one-sided defeat in the first game, the second rendition was more competitive but ultimately ended 2-1 in favor of the NHL’s newest club at Maverick Arena. Colorado ended the preseason with a 1-5 record.
It’s called preseason for a reason. It’s a chance for the sport’s brightest prospects to get some time in the sun, while the established veterans get back into the grind of the game. Let’s take a look at our improvers and snoozers.
Improvers
Ivan Ivan
Ivan may have the same first and last name, but he has a lot of edge to his game. He’s a machine that never stops, and it’s that determination that allowed him to pounce on a rebound earlier this evening for Colorado’s only goal in the game, which came after Connor Ingram denied Joel Kiviranta’s shot, but Ivan was there to get the garbage. His forecheck forces opposing players to cough up the puck and allows his team opportunities to score goals. Ivan plays very much like a younger version of Logan O’Connor. The 22-year-old should be a lock for the fourth-line center position barring unforeseen circumstances.
Sam Malinski
Malinski had a very quiet, but impressive preseason showing. He should be slotted alongside Calvin de Haan as a third-line defenseman. Malinski has earned his stripes. This is a kid that went undrafted and he had to really grind to get to this level. Now it’s about staying there and we’ll see what Malinski has to offer this season.
Snoozers
Alexandar Georgiev
Alexandar Georgiev was terrible in the first period. I’m just going to say it. It wasn’t just that he was bad, but in the final preseason game when you’re arguably fighting for the starting job against Justus “Juice” Annunen, who was lights out against the Golden Knights last Thursday, it’s a bad look. Furthermore, it’s a contract year. Prove you’re worth the extension. The same issues were prevalent: 1. Giving up soft goals. 2. Too slow to react. 3. Consistently inconsistent. The five-hole goal he allowed at the hands of Dylan Guenther is one of the worst goals you’ll see from an NHL starter. It wasn’t even close. Georgiev got caught napping like a malfunctioning robot. And again, with Annunen closing out strong, Jared Bednar could have a tough decision to make. But I’d pick Sam Dullard’s doppelganger if the call were up to me.
Chris Wagner
Wagner didn’t necessarily appear to struggle but it also looked like he didn’t want to be there. Who could blame him? He was placed on waivers earlier in the day and re-assigned to the Colorado Eagles. One has to feel for Wagner; it’s never easy getting sent back down, but it’s also a chance for him to learn more about himself. Let’s see if he uses this as fuel to become a permanent fixture in the NHL. He’s not ready yet, but if there’s any silver lining, he’ll have a dominant presence and will be a key contributor for the Eagles this season.
Upcoming
It’s finally time to get the regular season underway. The Avalanche open the 2024-25 season Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to take on the Golden Knights. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. MT in a TNT-televised matchup. The game will also be available on MAX....
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