SAN JOSE, Calif. — Coming off his first series victory as a starting goalie in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Philipp Grubauer takes significant confidence into Round 2 and arguably gives the Avalanche an edge at a position that always plays a vital role.
Grubauer, a backup for the Washington Capitals in their run to winning the Stanley Cup a year ago, and then again for Colorado in October, went 4-1 against top-seeded Calgary in the first round, and his 1.90 goals-against average and .939 save percentage rank second in the playoffs behind the New York Islanders’ Robin Lehner (1.