You won't believe which unsung hero made the Avalanche's 2022 Cup run possible
Photo credit: John Woods / The Canadian Press
The Colorado Avalanche haven't been nearly as dominant in the years following their Stanley Cup win, with goaltending struggles playing a major role in their struggles. Looking back, it's clear just how valuable Pavel Francouz was, delivering in clutch moments and giving the team a significant edge when it mattered most.
Francouz played a crucial role when Darcy Kuemper went down in the postseason with an iinjury.
Pavel Francouz showed up when the Colorado Avalanche needed him most.
Graham Tiedtke of Mile High Sticking highlighted Pavel Francouz's crucial role during the Avalanche's 2021-22 Stanley Cup run.
While not the team's primary goaltender, Francouz proved just as vital, stepping up in the most high-pressure moments and consistently delivering when it mattered most.
"When he was called upon, Francouz stood tall in net during the 2021-22 postseason. In total, he played in seven postseason games in relief of Darcy Kuemper, who notably had to miss several games due to an eye injury. Of the seven, he started four, and put up a record of 6-0. It's really tough to put up a 6-0 record against any teams, but to be able to do it against stiff competition in a playoff setting? If I had it my way, there would be a show on NHL Network dedicated to Francouz's unexpected appearance." -Tiedtke
It's rare for a backup goaltender to see significant action in the playoffs, as most don't play a single game over the two-month postseason.
In Francouz's case, however, he was called upon and stepped up in a major way, delivering crucial performances for his team when it mattered most.
"Kuemper's eye injury was a freak accident, but to my surprise, it turns out that that actually happened to him years prior, too. That was when he was with the Arizona Coyotes. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to focus on the task in front of them while they wondered about their starting netminder." -Tiedtke
The Avalanche will rely heavily on their goaltending this season.
With Mackenzie Blackwood's injury history, and the possibility that Scott Wedgewood could face similar pressure, the team may need him to step up just as Francouz did during the 2021-22 Stanley Cup run.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 5 | 14 ANSWERS You won't believe which unsung hero made the Avalanche's 2022 Cup run possible Will Scott Wedgewood get more than 30 starts this season for the Colorado Avalanche? | ||
| yes | 9 | 64.3 % |
| no | 5 | 35.7 % |
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