The Avalanche close out their nine-game homestand with a Saturday matinee, finishing the two-game set against the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena.
They’ll be looking to build on Thursday’s impressive 5-1 win to move three points ahead of the Wild in the West Division.
Here’s my NHL.com RECAP of Thursday’s game when the Avalanche outshot the Wild 55-20.
In the meantime, several reports surfaced Friday that general manager Joe Sakic is interested in acquiring goalie Jonas Johansson from the Buffalo Sabres.
Sabres said to be on verge of trading goalie Jonas Johansson, possibly to #Avs https://t.co/cEgqeWNHcF via @TheBuffaloNews
— Rick Sadowski (@RickS7) March 19, 2021
Hate to use the word ‘desperate’, but the Avalanche are in serious need of a backup for Philipp Grubauer in the wake of the lower-body injury that has kept Pavel Francouz on the sidelines since the season began, combined with the less-than-NHL caliber play of Hunter Miska, who has been assigned to the AHL Eagles.
It appears Adam Werner will be the backup Saturday, but the Avalanche have back-to-back games in Arizona on Monday and Tuesday, and they surely would prefer a goalie with more NHL experience to play one of those games.
Whether Johansson, 25, is the answer is questionable at best; the 6-foot-5, 220-pounder is 0-5-1 this season with the pitiful Sabres, who have lost 13 games in a row (0-11-2) and this week fired coach Ralph Krueger. Johansson has a 3.79 goals-against average and .884 save percentage. He went 1-3-1 last season with a 2.94 GAA and .894 save percentage.
Coach Jared Bednar wasn’t available after an optional practice Friday.
Grubauer will make his 23rd start and 24th appearance Saturday when the Avalanche (18-8-2) begin the second half of the 56-game season trying to extend their winning streak to six games.
Wild coach Dean Evason said Friday that Kaapo Kahkonen will be in net after Cam Talbot made 50 saves Thursday.
Kahkonen has won his past nine games with a 1.44 GAA and .947 save percentage.