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.”
Ukraine, Israel aid bill on track as House pushes toward votes
How DO you deal with a problem like Gary Lineker?
Atletico Madrid star reveals the footballers'
Cristiano Ronaldo swaps red card rage for beach tranquility as Al
Watch Ryan Garcia get into an X
Government needs to 'step up' and support rainbow community amid protest
Ai Weiwei launches new exhibit, says still trying to understand studio demolitions
Hundreds of pests caught travelling along Transmission Gully
2 suspects detained in Poland for attack on a Navalny ally in Lithuania
The Golden Bachelor couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are getting a divorce
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Tiger Woods starts his 26th Masters with an impressive birdie on his first hole