Before the final 2022 stroke of midnight, the Avalanche finally yanked a starting goaltender.
Not out of situational necessity or injury precaution; it was a performance-based change. Jared Bednar pulled starter Alexandar Georgiev late in the second period Saturday after Georgiev allowed a fifth Toronto goal in an eventual 6-2 Avalanche loss.
Hard as it is to believe this was the first time Colorado (19-13-3) has pulled a goalie this season, that it took until the 35-game mark is both a testament to Georgiev’s exceptional start in his new role and a commentary on the Avalanche’s direction entering 2023.