Let’s be honest, the recent game in Edmonton was a disaster for the Colorado Avalanche, especially with the loss of Mikko Rantanen due to injury from a hit by Mattias Ekholm.
Jared Bednar mentioned that Rantanen’s condition would be evaluated for some time, adding to the team’s woes.
During their 6-2 defeat against Edmonton, significant concerns surfaced, which cannot be ignored.
Firstly, it’s important to note that the Avalanche were on the second leg of a back-to-back game series. They likely arrived at their hotel in Edmonton very late, leading to expected fatigue.
Last season, Colorado had an impressive record in back-to-back games, but this year, their performance in such situations hasn’t been as strong.
While there might have been optimism based on last year’s successes, the concerns raised in the Edmonton game were valid.
Despite some players returning to the lineup with fresh legs, they didn’t seem to be operating at full capacity and may require a few games to regain their form.
So, what exactly went wrong in Edmonton?
Georgiev’s performance was disappointing. His frustration was evident, culminating in a visible outburst after conceding goals. Bednar decided to substitute him out, emphasizing the vulnerability such displays create for the team.
Despite Georgiev’s struggles, he remained in goal, possibly due to strategic reasons or to allow him to work through his frustration.
It’s worrying that Georgiev’s performances haven’t improved despite these emotional outbursts.
As for the team’s defensive efforts, lapses were evident, particularly after Edmonton’s third goal, which seemed to affect Georgiev’s confidence.
Overall, the game highlighted several issues that the Avalanche need to address, especially considering the upcoming crucial games. They need to be mentally and physically prepared for the challenges ahead, particularly in the defensive aspect of their game.
