The Avalanche and Rangers might be off-Broadway appointment viewing next June.
Georgiev notably denied New York’s 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick, Alexis Lafrenière, several times, including once with a sweeping pad save on a nifty redirect.
And when the game fittingly, if cruelly, went to a shootout, he once more managed to rise to the occasion. He saved three of four New York attempts. The game-clincher: another pad save against Lafrenière, punctuated by an emotional Georgiev punching the air.As for where it ranks: “Tough to say, but pretty fun one,” Georgiev said, revealing a grin again. “It’s in the top probably.”
The first to greet him in celebration was Rodrigues, another Avalanche newcomer who was slotted fourth in the shootout lineup when three attempts per team weren’t enough to break the stalemate.Rodrigues had watched Cale Makar try a fake shot backhand on his shootout turn. It’s a move Rodrigues has done plenty himself.The Avalanche entered the night ranked 31st in the NHL in penalty kill but deterred all four New York power plays, including a 4-on-3 advantage in overtime.
The only goals Georgiev allowed? One late in the second period on an odd-man rush stemming from Sam Girard’s errant shot off the boards, and the other on an Adam Fox counter with 5:57 left in regulation after Nathan MacKinnon turned the puck over on the other end. “He’s a really good goalie, and we expect him to make big saves for us every night,” Makar said. “Hopefully we don’t have to put him in positions like we did tonight.”