Nightmare scenario taking place in the Avalanche net to start the season

Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for Alexandar Georgiev, they did.

Or did things just kind of stay the same?

Colorado’s starting netminder was given a chance to redeem himself on Saturday in the home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“I want him to bounce back,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said ahead of the game.

That did not happen. It wasn’t a slow burn, either. It was immediate.

On Columbus’ second shot of the game, Zach Werenski was able to beat Georgiev on the blocker side. That one wasn’t all on him, as Josh Manson was beat badly to the back post. The other goals? Yeah, hard to blame the defense.

The very next shot, just 67 seconds later, Kent Johnson came down the right wing and from an awful angle managed to beat Georgiev on the short side over his glove hand. It was eerily similar to the first goal Georgiev gave up in Vegas, just on the opposite side.

He held on for dear life the rest of the period, and so did Bednar. He could have pulled his goaltender to start the second period, but Colorado’s bench boss gave him one more shot.

On the first shot of the second period, Adam Fantilli just threw it towards the net after entering the zone down to Georgiev’s left. Probably not the worst idea in the world, and it worked. The puck snuck threw Georgiev’s legs and that was all she wrote. Bednar emphatically motioned towards Justus Annunen and Georgiev’s night was finished.

Two starts, 61:56 played, 25 shots against, and 8 goals against. That’s a save percentage of 64%. If you’re reaching base on 64% of your at-bats, you’re an all-star. If your save percentage is 64% after just two games, it might be time to start wondering if your job is in real jeopardy. Things haven’t exactly gone any better for Justus Annunen, which complicates things even more, but what are the Avalanche to do?

They picked up Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers Friday afternoon, but his arrival is TBD because of immigration. Even then, there’s no way a goaltender with a career save percentage of .898 can be the savior. Stranger things have happened, but two games into the season, Chris MacFarland might be looking at a worst case scenario.

He’s missing his Captain, three top-six forwards, and his team is getting the worst goaltending in the league. Is it too early to panic? Maybe, maybe not, but it might be time for the Avalanche general manager to start working the phones for a real solution in net.

For now, the Avalanche are sticking by their guy. Maybe because they have no other choice.

"He's our guy," Bednar said of Georgiev after a second straight loss.

"I have full faith that he has the ability, the talent, the work ethic, to bounce back and win us hockey games."