Playoff Preview: Love Me Tendy

As the Colorado Avalanche move on to the second round of their postseason pursuits it doesn’t get any easier with a matchup against division rival Dallas Stars. Although the Stars needed seven games to dispatch the Vegas Golden Knights, they are a very strong team top to bottom who just missed the Presidents’ Trophy by one point. As always goaltending will likely shape this series in a clash of two 2024 All-Star goalies.

Jake Oettinger

It was a mediocre regular season for the 25-year-old netminder who experienced a step back after an outstanding 2022-23 season in which he finished top five in Vezina Trophy voting. A 35-14-4 record with a .905 save percentage and 2.72 Goals Against Average and only a 2.7 Goals Saved Above Average left some doubts about whether Jake Oettinger could backstop the Stars to a Stanley Cup. Those concerns have been quieted after a strong performance in Dallas’ first-round series defeat of Vegas. With a .925 save percentage and 1.95 GAA to go along with a Game 7 victory, the confidence will be riding high heading into the meeting with Colorado. It’s a team that he has a 4-3-1 record against with a .915 save percentage and 3.06 GAA, so there’s possibilities for success either way.

Alexandar Georgiev

After a disastrous Game 1 in Winnipeg, Alexandar Georgiev settled down and led the Avalanche to a first-round victory. The Jets saw their offense dry up and as a result didn’t pepper Georgiev with the number of shots to make his statistics glow. With a .900 save percentage and 2.83 GAA it was good enough to get the job done, however, and quiet the cries for Justus Annunen to get a look in net. Georgiev will have to bring his best in this round and has seen success against Dallas with a 6-3-0 lifetime record, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.93 GAA.

Wild Card

This series should not see either backup factor in net but Scott Wedgewood did get in 32 games for the Stars in the regular season. Still, it’s up to Oettinger to regain his Vezina-worthy form if the Stars are to make a real run. Annunen’s illness removed the temptation to make a change in Colorado’s net but with the team publicly rallying around Georgiev they know he’s their guy. How long is the leash and is there any scenario (besides injury) Jared Bednar would start Annunen? Hopefully, the answers to those questions aren’t revealed in this second-round series.