Both the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets are expected to prioritize tightening their defense as they head into Game 2 of their opening-round Stanley Cup playoff series on Tuesday night. The conventional wisdom of playoff hockey, characterized by stringent defensive play and limited scoring opportunities, was disregarded in Game 1, which saw the Jets secure a thrilling 7-6 victory on Sunday.
One notable contrast in the series opener was the goaltending performance. Despite conceding six goals, Connor Hellebuyck showcased resilience for the Jets, making 40 saves. Meanwhile, Alexandar Georgiev made 16 saves for the Avalanche. Georgiev has yielded 29 goals across his last six outings, including regular-season games. Justus Annunen, the backup goaltender, was unavailable due to illness on Sunday, and Colorado coach Jared Bednar confirmed on Monday that Annunen was still unfit to play. During the regular season, Annunen served as Georgiev’s backup, posting an 8-4-1 record with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage.
Reflecting on Georgiev’s performance, Bednar emphasized the importance of mental resilience for both the goaltender and the team as a whole, highlighting the need to reset regardless of the previous game’s outcome.
In contrast, Hellebuyck did not face similar scrutiny despite allowing six goals on 46 shots. Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness credited Hellebuyck for making crucial saves at pivotal moments throughout the game.
The offensive contributions were notable on both sides, with Kyle Connor and Adam Lowry each scoring twice for Winnipeg, while Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Artturi Lehkonen made significant impacts for Colorado.
Bowness emphasized the necessity of making defensive adjustments to impede the Avalanche’s zone entries more effectively, noting that Colorado had too much ease entering their defensive zone and generating sustained pressure. Despite setting a franchise record for most goals in a playoff game and breaking a four-game home losing streak in the postseason, the Jets are aware of the challenges ahead in a series that promises to be fiercely contested.
