Postgame Wrap-Up: Grubauer Stops 40 in Back-to-Back

CHICAGO--With the Colorado Avalanche in the heat of a playoff race and getting ready to play the second half of a back-to-back set, head coach Jared Bednar had a tough decision to make in goal. Does he go with Philipp Grubauer, who had been one of the best netminders in the league in recent weeks but had played every game in the past week, or does he go with a rested keeper in Semyon Varlamov?
Bednar ultimately went with the hot hand in Grubauer and the goaltender did his part to get the Avalanche a key point in its postseason push. Grubauer stopped 40 shots for the second time in the last three games, as Colorado fell 2-1 in overtime at the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
"It was a tough decision, it's no question, but the way Grubauer has been playing lately and what he's been able to do and bailing us out in different situations on any given night and coming up with big saves when we needed it, made the job a little easier," Bednar reasoned. "I talked to him after the game [on Saturday]. I talked to him again when we got here last night and again this morning. He's felt good. He felt rested. He was outstanding for us tonight. It turned out for me to be the right choice."

Grubauer made 29 saves on Saturday afternoon against the Blackhawks in the first half of the home-and-home set, a contest that the Avs won 4-2.
On Sunday, the goalie was making his fifth consecutive start and was playing both games of a back-to-back situation for the second time this season--he also started both contests on Dec. 21-22 against Chicago and at Arizona after Varlamov fell ill.
"I felt good. Guys made it easy again," Grubauer said. "Obviously it's a little more challenging because you play back-to-back, it's a little more challenging mentally to stay focused and ready to go. They were pushing, and we were pushing back at one point."

The Rosenheim, Germany, native is now 6-2-1 in his last 10 appearances (nine starts) with a 1.10 goals-against average, .966 save percentage and three shutouts. He's helped the Avs pick up points in five straight (4-0-1) and seven of the last eight games (6-1-1).
The point earned on Sunday gives Colorado a two-point cushion on the Minnesota Wild and Arizona Coyotes for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Avs play the Coyotes on Friday at home.
Grubauer had around 27 hours to recover between starts as Saturday's outing at Pepsi Center ended around at 3:30 p.m. MT, while Sunday's puck drop at United Center was at 7 p.m. CT. Those extra hours of rest were welcomed by the 27-year-old.
"Got a little more rest than usual," he said. "Recover as quick as possible, hot and cold tub and be ready to go."

The Blackhawks had a strong first and third periods in the season finale between the Central Division foes, but the only puck to get past Grubauer in regulation was on a deflection during a power play at 1:44 of the final frame.
Chicago outshot Colorado 42-20 in the outing, and Alex Kerfoot scored the only goal for the Avs with a redirection during a 5-on-3 man advantage.
"It was a tough game for our group, no question. I think we're real fortunate to get a point out of this one." Bednar said. "Great goaltending performance by Grubauer, and power play gets one and it is enough to hang on and get one point. Certainly not a great performance by our group. This time of the year, we'll take the point, no question."

SERIES RECAP:The Avalanche finished its five-game season series against the Blackhawks with 2-1-2 record, picking up three of a possible four points in the two contests over the weekend.
The Avs recent run and performance over the past two days has created some separation in the standings between them and Chicago, which is now five points behind Colorado for a playoff spot.
"It was big for us to hang on and get that one point," said Tyson Barrie. "Grubi played awesome, but disappointing that we didn't get two. We got three of four points in the weekend, so it's big."
The Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets are the only teams that Colorado plays five times this year. The Avs play four games each versus the other four Central Division clubs.
FIRE AWAY, FIRE AWAY:Nathan MacKinnon had four shots against the Blackhawks to set a new single-season franchise record for the Avalanche.
MacKinnon how has 340 shots in 2018-19, breaking Joe Sakic's record of 339 from the 1995-96 campaign.
The Colorado center has fired at least one shot in 145 consecutive games. It's the second-longest stretch in the NHL behind the Carolina Hurricanes' Dougie Hamilton (239).
MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in scoring 92 points (37 goals and 55 assists) and is the first Colorado player in post back-to-back seasons of 90 or more points since Peter Forsberg (1997-98, 1998-99).
KEEP BARRIE-ING 'EM:Tyson Barrie's four-game point streak ended in Saturday's matchup in Denver, but the defenseman started a new one on Sunday with the primary assist on the game's opening goal.
Barrie actually had the primary shot on the tally, as he fired a one-timer that deflected off Alexander Kerfoot and past goalie Corey Crawford during a 5-on-3 power play with 4:34 remaining in the second period.
The Avs blueliner now has four goals and two assists in his last six games and five goals and four assists in his past 10 contests. The Victoria, British Columbia, native's 53 points (11 goals and 42 assists) on the year are fourth overall on the team and rank tied for eighth in the league among defensemen.

MORE POSTGAME NOTES:The Avalanche was playing its first home-and-home, back-to-back set since Dec. 16-17, 2013 against the Dallas Stars (excluding the two games in Sweden against the Ottawa Senators in November 2017 for the NHL Global Series).
Carl Soderberg finished with a career-high six hits.
Erik Johnson's six blocked shots matched a season high (also: Feb. 23 at Nashville).
Prior to the game, the Avalanche recalled forward A.J. Greer from the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League. He was a healthy scratch.
Colorado used an 11-forward, seven-defensemen lineup for the fifth straight game.