On Saturday morning, the Avalanche announced that the team recalled goaltender Justus Annunen from its AHL affiliate the Colorado Eagles.
Annunen, who Colorado drafted in the third round (64th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, boasts a 24-13-6 record, 3.01 GAA, a 0.893 SV% and two shut outs for the Eagles this season. Francouz owns a 15-4-1 record, a 2.52 GAA, a .918 SV% and two shut outs this season for the Avalanche. Right now, everything looks OK, but we'll see what tomorrow brings."
Well, it appears the puck to the face that Pavel Francouz took last night in Edmonton will cost him some time with the active roster.
Annunen has a 24-13-6 record with the Eagles, but the save percentage of .893 leaves something to be desired. Well, it appears the puck to the face that Pavel Francouz took last night in Edmonton will cost him some time with the active roster. After the game, Jared Bednar said he thought Francouz was “OK”, but that the next morning would tell more.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz (39) and teammates celebrate the team's overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets during an NHL hockey game Friday, ...
Annunen, 22, has a 4.34 goals-against average and .863 save percentage in two appearances (97 minutes) with the Avs this season. The finale is Friday at the red-hot Minnesota Wild (7-2-1 last 10 games) to conclude a consecutive-night stretch in which the Avs will use two goalies. For the suddenly reeling Avalanche, Pavel Francouz’s head injury from an errant puck at Edmonton is a shot across the bow. Francouz took a puck to the side of his face off a deflection from Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who was trying to break up defenseman Cale Makar’s zone-exit pass near the Avs’ bench. Big-league backup goalies aren’t required to don their helmets from the bench. They must recognize line changes and open the door for teammates coming off the ice.
Annunen was promoted from AHL Colorado on Saturday. Annunen's promotion suggests Pavel Francouz may miss time with his head injury.