Colorado's netminder earned his 14th career shutout against the Chicago Blackhawks and has backstopped the Avalanche to an undefeated start to the season
While winning is certainly a team effort, goaltending is crucial — as those who play the position know all too well.
The Colorado Avalanche are undefeated five games into the season and a prime reason is Alexandar Georgiev's stellar performances. But the true team player he is, it's not just about him.
"I think guys are playing great. We're having so much success on PK (penalty kill) right now ...," the 27-year-old goalie said after practice Sunday. "Just have to focus on the good things and see what we can improve and try to be better every game now."
Georgiev is dialed in and his teammates are supporting him by getting pucks in the net on the other end of the ice.
Here's a breakdown of the NHL's reasoning to name him the No. 2 star of the week:
-Georgiev went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and one shutout to help the Avalanche (5-0-0, 10 points) continue their unblemished start to 2023-24 as they moved within two victories of matching the longest season-opening winning streak in franchise history, established in 1985-86 (7-0-0 as QUE). Georgiev stopped 37 of 38 shots, including all 22 he faced after the first period, in a 4-1 victory against the Seattle Kraken Oct. 17. He then made 18 saves for his 14th career shutout, and sixth with Colorado, in a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 19. Georgiev closed the week with 23 stops in a 6-4 triumph against the Carolina Hurricanes Oct. 21, his League-best fifth win in as many starts this season (5-0-0, 1.58 GAA, .943 SV%, 1 SO). The 27-year-old Georgiev, who owned 58 victories in 129 career appearances prior to being acquired by the Avalanche in July 2022 (58-48-11, 2.94 GAA, .908 SV%, 8 SO), paces the NHL with 45 wins in 67 contests since the start of 2022-23 (45‑16-6, 2.46 GAA, .920 SV%, 6 SO).
The Avalanche won two at home and go back on the road for the next three. If they win Tuesday night, they'll set a new longest road wins record spanning seasons at 15. But Georgiev doesn't focus on the numbers or where they play, per se.
"It's getting ready for the next game, being sharp. Being part of having success here, being sharp every time from the start," he said. "Play my game don't change much."
The Bulgarian native goaltender doesn't need to alter much, if anything in his game — he's only allowed eight goals in five games. It may be early in the season but it's a solid effort right out of the gate.