WASHINGTON — Alexandar Georgiev’s tenure as the Colorado Avalanche’s top goalie hasn’t always gone smoothly, but he has demonstrated a knack for bouncing back from difficult moments with some of his best performances.
It seems he might not be the only goaltender on the roster with that quality.
Justus Annunen faced the toughest start of his NHL career on Friday night, allowing three goals on just six shots against the Washington Capitals before being replaced by Trent Miner, a goalie without any NHL experience. He rebounded impressively with 24 saves in a 3-2 victory on Monday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
“He had a fantastic game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar remarked. “I thought it was crucial for him to keep the score at zero for as long as he did, which allowed us to build a lead. It was a comeback performance, not just for Justus but for the entire team.
“We didn’t play well against the Capitals. The result reflected that. We wanted to improve, and we did.”
The Flyers adopted a defensively focused strategy, attempting to withstand Colorado’s offensive pressure. They concentrated on blocking perimeter shots and cutting off passing lanes to limit close-range opportunities.
This tactical approach often leaves the opposing goalie with extended periods of inactivity. The Avalanche dominated puck possession during the first period, attempting 30 shots (with 10 hitting the target).
Annunen anticipated early on that he wouldn’t face many shots if the Flyers maintained their style, but he understood the chances he would see could come from counterattacks. His capability to manage the limited but potentially dangerous opportunities helped keep the Avalanche in control, allowing them time to eventually dismantle the Flyers’ defense.
“(Annunen) was excellent. He’s been solid all year,” said Avs center Casey Mittelstadt. “He made some crucial saves, especially early on when the game was a bit slow. Just an outstanding job by (Annunen) for sure.”
After the Avalanche established a 3-0 lead, the Flyers became more aggressive. Annunen did concede two goals—one from a long wrist shot through traffic that Bednar noted his goalie would want back, and another from a chaotic situation in his crease.
For the second time this season, the Avalanche allowed a goal thinking their goalie had control of the puck, but the referee saw it differently.
“Just a strange scramble at the net,” said Avs defenseman Cale Makar. “Nobody knew where the puck was, and the ref was just standing there. I was confused about what was happening. I think (Annunen) played well today.”
This isn’t Annunen’s first instance of responding after a rough performance. His initial two games this season came in relief of an ineffective Georgiev, and neither went well. He allowed two goals on four shots against Vegas and two quick ones against Columbus before settling down.
After that, he won five of his next six starts, achieving a .908 save percentage before being pulled against Washington at Ball Arena. Now, Annunen is presented with another chance at redemption.
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