6 Best Calvin Pickard Saves for Colorado Avalanche
Ok, there’s only one Calvin Pickard, not six, but the Colorado Avalanche’s rookie goalie has been making saves like there’s six of him, or he’s six-armed anyway. He’s more than kept the Avalanche in every game they’ve played. He’s given them stellar chances to win — and stolen more than a few points for them.
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The rookie, who’s spent the majority of his career thus far bouncing around between the Major Juniors and the AHL, has played in just 11 NHL games, but he’s already turning some heads. He’s not only making the big saves, he’s making saves against superstar players making what should be highlight reel plays.
So, for the sixth day of the 12 Days of Avs Christmas, let’s look at some of the young netminder’s best saves.
Olli Jokinen Stonewalled by Pickard
In the December 9, game against the Nashville Predators, the revamped Nashville squad started putting the pressure on late in the third period. The Avalanche were down by one, which is manageable even at that late point. Down by two is a lot tougher.
The Colorado Avalanche skaters were working, but they couldn’t get the puck out of their own zone. The puck slid through Pickard’s crease, but it was no real danger. However, the Predator’s took possession and got it up to the point. Nashville defenseman released a slapshot, which ended up loose in front of the net.
Nashville center Olli Jokinen scooped the puck up and tried to bat it past Pickard. There were bodies everywhere, but Pickard smothered it with his body. Save made.
Pickard Robs Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby is largely heralded as one of the best, if not the best, forward in the NHL. He is a superstar.
Apparently Calvin Pickard was unimpressed in the December 18 game. Crosby found the puck in the neutral zone — having to look skyward to locate it. No matter — the puck just comes to some players. Suddenly, he was on a mini breakaway.
Seeing Sidney Crosby coming at you on a breakaway has to be the stuff of nightmares for a goalie — just ask silver medalist Henrik Lundqvist. Picks just waited, skating out of his crease to cut down the angle. Crosby shot, but Pickard robbed the superstar of his goal.
Pickard Debuts with Save on Karlsson
Maybe Calvin Pickard has ice water in his veins. How else to explain his calm debut in the NHL? It certainly shouldn’t have been calm. He started the day in Chicago preparing to play with the AHL Lake Erie Monsters. He then traveled to Ottawa to play backup to Avalanche goalie Reto Berra.
Then, 2 1/2 minutes into the game, Berra suffered an injury. Not only was Pickard going to play in the NHL, he was going to do it in difficult circumstances — by going in as backup after an injury.
Of course, the faceoff was in the Avs zone. And who should be lined up ready to introduce Pickard to the world of tending goal in the NHL? Erik Karlsson, the Ottawa Senators’ offensive defenseman. Erik Karlsson, the team leader in points.
Karlsson unleashed his slap shot through traffic, but Pickard wasn’t fooled. He made his first NHL save.
Pickard Denies Bobby Ryan
In Pickard’s debut, the October 16 match in Ottawa, Pickard also had to face a stellar shot from the Senators’ second leading scorer, Bobby Ryan. This is a player whose motto is “Coming in Hot.”
Well, Ryan was already in the zone, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t playing hot. A cherry picker at heart, he was lurking near the crease. Ottawa winger Alex Chiasson received a pass from Karlsson. He set up Ryan for what should have been a perfect one-timer.
The crowd erupted, thinking Ryan had made the goal. But Pickard had gotten his toe on the puck — he froze Ryan right out.
Pickard Keeps Andrew Ladd from Winning in OT
In the December 11, game against the Winnipeg Jets, the Avalanche came from behind, 3-1, to force the game into overtime. They had fought hard, and they really wanted that second point.
The Jets, led by captain Andrew Ladd, naturally wanted to disappoint the Avs. Halfway through the overtime period, Ladd picked up the puck at the Avalanche blueline. He had Colorado defenseman Zach Redmond beat. He was on a breakaway.
Ladd made a nifty little deke before shooting the puck at Pickard. Sudden death OT — it would have been the game winner. Except it wasn’t — Pickard stayed cool-headed. He cut down the angle and dropped into the butterfly at just the right moment to stonewall Ladd.
Pickard’s Shootout Save Wins the Game
Despite Pickard’s efforts, the Avalanche didn’t always manage to win the above games. However, in the Winnipeg game, Pickard had more than the usual say. The game went past overtime and into the shootout — the skills competition.
Well, the Avs shooters did their part. Both Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon scored on their shootout attempts. Pickard had already made the save against Mathieu Perreault. Now it was time to face Blake Wheeler. For the win. A save would win the game.
Well, we know by now that Pickard should be called Jack Frost for the coolness of his demeanor. Wheeler came at him with speed. He drilled straight down center of the ice. He settled the puck, and prepared to shoot.
Pickard stayed big in net. He refused to be fooled, and he didn’t go down until Wheeler had already committed to the shot. He knocked that puck away with his goalie paddle.
As the puck careened away, and Wheeler’s shoulders dropped in disappointment, Pickard opened wide as a star. He executed a shoulder wave, and took a running leap into captain Gabriel Landeskog‘s arms. In short, his celly was almost as impressive as the save itself.
Calvin Pickard is well on his way to creating a goalie controversy. In the game against the Penguins, he made an impressive 47 saves on 48 shots. He now boasts a .934 save percentage, which is third in the NHL. Hard not to call that your #1 goalie.