Instant reaction from the Avalanche’s 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series.
1. Tip of the cap to Georgie (and to the defense): We’ve got a series again, and it’s thanks to the eternal verities of the postseason — goaltending, defense and plain, old-fashioned hard work. Avalanche defenders threw their bodies around their defensive zone with fearless disregard. And Colorado’s favorite on-ice pin cushion, goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, stepped up huge in a desperate, gotta-have-it road game. Georgie, who was tagged for seven goals in Game 1, stopped 28 of the first 30 shots that came his way in Game 2. With the Avs nursing a 4-2 lead with 5:17 left, he rejected a Nikolaj Ehlers wrister at close range. Per NaturalStatTrick.com, Georgie survived 11 “high-danger” chances at his net on Tuesday, after seeing seven “high-danger” shots just two days before — letting most of them in. Lady Momentum is winging her way back to Ball Arena now, and the timing couldn’t be better.
2. Manson flips the script: A pair of Josh Manson mistakes either directly or indirectly led to two Winnipeg goals in Game 1, including a costly turnover next his own crease in the opening period. The veteran defenseman flipped the script Tuesday night. Over 7:17 of ice time in the first stanza, 5:51 at extra strength, Manson recorded two hits, a takeaway and a big block — the Illinois-born defender put his body on the line during the Jets’ first power play, diving near the crease to break up one point-blank look while Georgiev stoned the two extra-man shots he faced. Manson stayed aggressive throughout, and ironically, his penalty late in the second period turned into a boon for the visitors. After the D-man finished his stay in the sin for roughing, his return to the ice was spotted by Nathan MacKinnon. The former stayed onside as his teammate hit him from the other zone, in stride, giving the defender a 1-on-1 breakaway against venerated Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Manson beat Bucky in the five hole to give the Avs a 4-2 lead and silence the Canada Life Centre.
3. Bottom six topping the bill: Show of hands if you had Miles Wood joining Arturri Lehkonen as the Avs’ top scoring forward after the first five periods of this series? The top two lines will carry you through the regular season, but your bottom two lines are the difference-makers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Wood, the Avs’ third-line left winger, snuck a face-off feed from Ross Colton at the left dot past Connor Hellebuyck to get Colorado on the board after the Jets took a 1-0 lead. The fourth line got in on the fun with 2:40 left in the second period, as center Yakov Trenin’s forecheck on Hellebuyck rattled the likely Vezina winner. The Jets’ netminder lost the biscuit while skating wide of the crease, and the net was open just long enough for Trenin and linemate Andrew Cogliano to find Zach Parise for a great look. The veteran didn’t miss, giving the Avs a 3-2 cushion.
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