The streak wasn’t going to last forever, but an 8-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday was about as bad as it gets.
They had won five games in a row and gone 15 games (13-0-2) without a regulation loss, the second longest in franchise history behind the 16-game streak (12-0-4) the Avalanche set in 2000-01 when they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
It was the first regulation loss since March 8, a 3-2 defeat to the Arizona Coyotes.
Here’s the
NHL.com GAME RECAP.
The Avalanche remain in first place in the West Division heading into this weekend’s two-game set against the Anaheim Ducks that will complete the four-game road trip.
More troubling than losing a game is the fact that
Philipp Grubauer, who has been putting up Vezina Trophy numbers, allowed seven goals on 18 shots before coach
Jared Bednar replaced him with
Jonas Johansson at 7:18 of the third period.
Johansson, who made 25 saves last Friday in a 3-2 win against the St. Louis Blues, was beaten Wednesday on the only shot he faced. He has allowed a goal on the first shot in each of his three appearances since his acquisition from the Buffalo Sabres.
Grubauer has played in 33 of the Avalanche’s 39 games (32 starts), and the heavy workload seems to be catching up to him. He allowed 11 goals in a little fewer than 5 1-2 periods against the Wild after limiting opponents to 14 goals in the previous 12 games combined.
Grubauer, who is 24-8-1 with five shutouts, a 2.00 goals-against average and .919 save percentage, went 13 games without a regulation loss (12-0-1), a franchise record for a goalie.
You have to think, with 17 games left before the playoffs, general manager
Joe Sakic will pull the trigger again on a trade for a more reliable backup goalie than Johansson before Monday’s NHL trade deadline.
Grubauer can’t keep playing at his present rate, especially not when you figure he will play every single playoff game.
He needs more breaks than Johansson will be able to provide.
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Defenseman
Jacob MacDonald has been assessed a two-game suspension.
He had a hearing Thursday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for his illegal check to the head of Wild forward
Ryan Hartman.
The incident occurred with 5:17 left in the first period Wednesday. MacDonald wasn’t penalized and Hartman completed the game.
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
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