Alexandar Georgiev has been solid all season, but his performance in the Avalanche’s 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday was next level.
Colorado did not play a perfect game at T-Mobile Arena by any means. But on the second leg of a back-to-back, a strong goaltending performance was just what the doctor ordered to hang on for a crucial road victory.
Georgiev made 34 saves, including all 16 in the second period to improve to 3-0-1. Colorado was outshot 31-15 in the final 40 minutes, but the 26-year-old was spectacular, surrendering just a single goal after the Avalanche took a two-goal lead.
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The eventual game-winner came from Valeri Nichushkin — the Avs’ leading goal-scorer. Nichushkin tallied his sixth goal in as many games to start the year after going end to end, weaving his way through traffic and putting the puck past goalie Logan Thompson.
Nichushkin leads the Avalanche in points and is off to the best start of his career. The 27-year-old signed a max-term eight-year, $49 million contract last July and his sizzling start has him among the NHL leaders in goals and points.
Colorado jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon. His third of the season was also the first time in three games that the Avs scored the opening goal.
MacKinnon fired home a one-timer off a feed from Cale Makar to give the Avs another tally with the man advantage. Colorado later improved to a perfect 2-for-2 on the power play following a similar goal from Evan Rodrigues.
Just one night after finally scoring his first of the year, Rodrigues received a pass from Bowen Byram and fired it past Thompson on the only other opportunity the Avalanche had on the power play.
MacKinnon and Rodrigues’ tallies improved the Avs’ league-best power play to a staggering 52.9 percent efficiency. Colorado has scored on 9-of-17 opportunities.
Georgiev and the Avs continue their road trip with a three-game swing in the New York area following a quick stop in Denver. Colorado travels to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to take on Georgiev’s former team, the New York Rangers, for the first time since the offseason trade between the two clubs.
