Colorado Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz to make return from injury at Anaheim Ducks
Apr. 8—LOS ANGELES — The Colorado Avalanche finally received a bit of positive injury news.
Backup goaltender Pavel Francouz — absent since early February with a lower-body injury — will be the starter on Sunday in Anaheim, coach Jared Bednar confirmed Saturday before puck drop against the Kings at Crypto.com Arena.
Francouz has been a reliable No. 2 option in net for Colorado, when healthy, with a 7-7-1 record over 15 starts this season. He carries a .919 save percentage and 2.53 goals-against average.
Colorado has leaned on Jonas Johannson in the backup goaltender role since Francouz's injury. Johansson posted a 2-0 record over two starts with a .932 save percentage and a 2.10 goals-against average.
Byram absent
The Avalanche were without three of their top-four defensemen Saturday versus the Kings.
Bowen Byram was unavailable due to a pregame illness, Bednar said. He joined Cale Makar (lower body) and Josh Manson (lower body) on the injured list. However, Byram's absence is not long-term, Bednar said. Makar is considered "day-to-day" for return but there is currently no timeline for Manson.
Meyers breakthrough
Avalanche forward Ben Meyers knocked on the door with many quality scoring chances over the past few months with nothing to show for it. That all changed in a 6-2 road win Thursday in San Jose.
Meyers scored twice.
His first goal, on a second-period breakaway chance set up by Matt Nieto, required Meyers to knock down the puck in mid-air. He corralled it just in time for a successful shot on goal. Meyers scored again in the third period on a net-front feed from Alex Newhook.
"It feels good to help the team win in any way I can. It felt good," Meyers said. "We're just focused. Everybody knows that points are important at this time of the year."
Meyers is up to three goals scored on the season. He's been a solid AHL call-up and depth winger as the team adjusts without top-line forward Artturi Lehkonen (broken finger).
"He's played pretty well for us when he's been up here. He's gone down (to the AHL) and put some work into his game. I feel like he looks really quick here right now," Bednar said. "He's created a bunch of chances for himself and his teammates, but has really had a tough time finishing. To see him break through tonight and get a couple of big goals is good to see. You need that secondary scoring."
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Avalanche 4, Kings 3
What happened: Colorado was lucky to win a game in which they were outplayed on almost every level (except for goaltending).
What went right: The Avalanche led 2-0 early in the second period. Denis Malgin scored when his shot bounced off the glass, the top of the net, and in off the back of LA goaltender Pheonix Copley. Then Alex Newhook ended a 20-game goalless streak with a nifty deke and backhand finish at the net-front. Brad Hunt put the Avs ahead, 3-2, with a slapper from deep after a Colorado won a draw. Malgin notched the game-winning goal, a backhander, at the crease from a Valeri Nichushkin takeaway and assist.
What went wrong: The Avs were outshot in the first period, 18-5, and nearly gave up a shorthanded goal. Los Angeles tied the game in the second after it trailed 2-0 with scoring from Adrian Kempe (breakaway) and Viktor Arvidsson (power play). Kempe added a late third period goal.
Between the pipes: Alexandar Georgiev made 38-of-41 saves and was the team's best player. Los Angeles' Pheonix Copley stopped 19 of Colorado's 23 shots on goal.
What's next: The Avalanche (47-24-6) play on the second night of back-to-back games against the Anaheim Ducks (23-45-11), 6:30 p.m. Sunday (TNT) at the Honda Center.
