Pavel Francouz had no problem stopping the big one.
With Calvin de Haan bearing down on him for a potential breakaway goal Monday night, the Avalanche goaltender turned him away with relative ease. Later came Jonathan Toews from atop the goalmouth — a shot that required a little extra effort, but produced the same positive result.
Two giant stops early against Chicago, and Francouz was settling in. He finished with a 24-save shutout to become the first Avs goalie since Patrick Roy to blank an opponent in consecutive starts.
After undergoing four surgeries and enduring multiple setbacks since the 2020 playoff “bubble” in Edmonton, it served as the latest indication Francouz is all the way back.