DENVER (AP) — Colorado goaltender Alexandar Georgiev went home after a recent shaky outing and immediately watched film — the car-racing thriller “The Fast and the Furious.”
Anything to keep his own mind from racing.
It’s playoff time, where teams march to the beat of their goaltenders. They want them laser-focused, full of confidence and ready to save the day.
There are quite a few teams going into the postseason with big decisions in net. That includes Boston, which could split the goaltending duties, and the Avalanche, where Georgiev led the league in wins (38) but also goals against (183). Not every team has a Connor Hellebuyck, the Winnipeg goaltender who will try to shutdown the Avalanche and is a favorite to capture the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best.
“Your goalie (in the playoffs) is the most important thing, like a quarterback or a pitcher. You need them to be on top of their game,” said former NHL goaltender Michael Leighton, who now lives in Windsor, Ontario, and runs a goalie academy. “If they’re not, your team’s in trouble.”
NWSL champion Gotham FC sign German goalkeeper Ann
Interview: China sees rapid urbanization, integrated development in all fields
Airshow China kicks off in port city Zhuhai
Update: China unveils Shenzhou
Man United overhaul under Ratcliffe extends to new technical director
Xi pays visit to grassroots officials and residents in Tianjin ahead of Spring Festival
Flying Tigers veteran visits Great Wall in Beijing
Airshow China kicks off in port city Zhuhai
A man gets 19 years for a downtown St. Louis crash that cost a teen volleyball player her legs
China urges U.S. to stop harassing Chinese students
Dutch soccer club Vitesse docked points and relegated during probe of Russian ties to Abramovich
Xinhua Special: Warm Moments of Xi's Visits Ahead of Spring Festival