The Colorado Avalanche will be without starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer. The 28-year-old netminder is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He will miss the team’s next several games. Beat reporter Ryan Clark of The Athletic was among the first to announce the injury via Twitter.
Philipp Grubauer is day to day with a lower-body injury and will miss the next few games.
But he will make the team’s next trip to Canada. #Avs
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) November 7, 2019
Philipp Grubauer Out for Colorado
Grubauer was off to a good start for Colorado this year. He has started 11 games, winning six. He has a .915 save percentage and 2.80 Goals-Against-Average. Those numbers are inflated with Colorado’s recent string of losses and poor defence. This is Grubauer’s first season as a full-time starter but this injury doesn’t help perception that he is up to the task.
The team will likely lean on the 29-year-old Pavel Francouz for the next several contests. The Czech goalie has three NHL starts to his name, all from this season. He has a .919 SV% and 2.73 GAA in a much smaller sample. He was an outstanding player before coming to North America last season so fans are surely hoping he demonstrates some of that international dominance. The defence will have to improve in front him if he is to have any shot at wins.
What it Means
Colorado has also recalled AHL goaltender Adam Werner as a backup. A fifth round selection from the 2016 Draft, Werner has been fine with the AHL Colorado Eagles affiliate in Loveland. He’s had five wins with a .908 SV% and 2.88 Goals-Against in nine contests prior to his promotion. He seems like a solid option behind Francouz for now but any injury compound what is already a frustrating time for Avalanche fans. Five straight losses are no fun and now the team must rely on a duo that has just six NHL appearances to their name. Grubauer was in a slump but is still the best goalie by far on the roster at this time.
DENVER, COLORADO – FEBRUARY 12: Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Colorado Avalanche tends goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at the Pepsi Center on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
