The Colorado Avalanche Season: Five Favorite Moments from 2014-15
Emergence of Calvin Pickard
Dec 11, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) reacts to the shootout win against the Winnipeg Jets at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Jets 4-3 in a shootout period. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
How about that Calvin Pickard? He barely got any notice at training camp, and the next thing you know he’s the Colorado Avalanche’s clutch goalie.
We already know the Colorado Avalanche season was deterred by injuries. Pickard came in as a result of not one but two. Semyon Varlamov‘s groin was starting to go wonky, and Reto Berra was injured early in a game against the Ottawa Senators.
Probably the iconic moment — besides a huge save on Pittsburgh Penguins sniper Evgeny Malkin — was when Pickard backstopped the Avalanche to their first shootout win on December 11, against the Winnipeg Jets. In celebration Picks turned himself into a five-point star and then did the wave with his shoulders! However, I love the interview he gave afterward. He’s bristling with confidence — which is gold in a goalie: