Devan Dubnyk earns 4-3 victory in Avalanche goalie debut – The Denver Post

The Avalanche traded for NHL veteran Devan Dubnyk with the need to solidify a shaky backup goalie situation.

He passed the first test.

Colorado earned a 4-3 road victory Wednesday at the St. Louis Blues with Dubnyk making his Avs debut. He recorded 31 saves playing in relief of starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who was placed on the NHL’s COVID protocol list earlier in the day. The timetable for Grubauer’s return is unclear, however, the Avs did not falter with a newcomer in net.

“It’s too bad for (Grubauer) and we want him to feel great,” Dubnyk said. “But that’s just this year. It could happen to anybody. I try to think too much. Just go and work.”

Colorado surged for three goals in the second period as Nathan MacKinnon extended his league-leading points streak to 11 consecutive games (assist). The Avalanche, winners in four straight, continue to pace the NHL in points (64) entering a Friday night home tilt vs. the Los Angeles Kings.

On Wednesday, the Avs’ fourth line struck first.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, on a touch pass from Liam O’Brien, beat Blues goalie Jordan Binnington glove side for an early 1-0 lead. But St. Louis went on the power-play minutes later and defenseman Vince Dunn capitalized with an easy goal past Dubnyk — tying the game to close the first period.

“A little sloppy at the start,” Dubnyk said. “Obviously, there were a few nerves for me with the new team. I got away with it and felt a little better and settled in as the game went on.”

The Avs simply overpowered St. Louis in the second with a trio of goals.

J.T. Compher cleaned up a rebound in the crease. Mikko Rantanen blasted a deep one-timer on a power-play chance. Brandon Saad, with a perfect behind-the-net feed from Tyson Jost, scored to make it 4-1 entering the third period.

But the lead wasn’t safe.

The Blues cut into their deficit when forward Mike Hoffman shot a puck that ended up on Dubnyk’s back and rolled into the goal near the right post. Then Hoffman scored again, on a power-play chance, with Colorado clinging to a 4-3 lead. St. Louis pulled Binnington from goal with about 3 minutes left.

Dubnyk made several impressive saves in the final seconds to secure the Avs win.

“In the third period, they were coming at us with everything they had,” coach Jared Bednar said. “We didn’t handle it very well. But (Dubnyk) made the saves that he needed to make. To be able to come in with a new team, first game, and have that performance, I was proud. He’s only going to get better and he spends more time with us and continues to put more work in.”

Carl Soderberg, an Avalanche forward from 2015-19, made his first appearance back with Colorado since being acquired at the trade deadline. Soderberg wore No. 34 and played on the team’s second line alongside Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky.

The Avalanche canceled its morning skate prior to the game after a player tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. A team statement read that the “person is in isolation and all other staff/players have been negative at this time” with Grubauer later placed on the NHL’s COVID protocol absence list.

“It will be more than 14 days until he’s back wearing a jersey for us,” Bednar said. “I don’t love the time off. When you’re playing really well as a goalie — or any player — you want to keep playing games and you want to stay active. That’s where (Grubauer) has been for us all year. It’s been a heavy workload.

“He’ll put in the work. I know he’ll be hungry to get back in the net when he gets healthy.

Colorado, with six games over the next 11 days, is expected to rely heavily on Dubnyk as the playoffs near in May. The 34-year-old journeyman goaltender brings a wealth of experience after more than 500 career NHL starts.

“Each game is going to get easier working with this group,” Dubnyk said. “It’s a good opportunity for me to play a significant role here over the next couple of weeks.”

Source: Read Full Article