Colorado Avalanche: Francouz and Kaut Record Firsts

Colorado Avalanche first-year players Pavel Francouz and Martin Kaut recorded memorable nights in the team’s win over the Anaheim Ducks.

The Colorado Avalanche recorded a victory against the Ducks in Anaheim. They now have 77 points. They have one point over the #3 in the Central Dallas Stars, with a game in hand. And they are just three points behind the St. Louis Blues for #1 in the Central with two games in hand.

The Avs control their own destiny.

Meanwhile, the injury bug continues to take a bite out of their butt like mosquitoes in Minnesota on a summer day. With injuries to players such as Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen, the Avalanche are playing rookie Martin Kaut. And, with the injury to Philipp Grubauer, they’re running with Pavel Francouz.

Both had big nights tonight. Francouz has not made us feel like we have a backup goalie. While he was in net for the team’s overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, he’s recorded two victories since then.

On Wednesday night, Francouz stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced in the victory over the New York Islanders. He earned third star of the night for the effort.

Tonight, he stopped 100% of his shots against the Ducks. He recorded his first NHL shutout. Here his is talking about the game tonight:

No surprise he’s so modest. All players are. (Also, is he not just so personable?)

Meanwhile, Francouz’s fellow Czech, and best buddy from their Colorado Eagles days, Martin Kaut also had a big game. Tonight marked just Kaut’s second game. And he’s already recorded a point.

He earned the primary assist on the game-winning goal J.T. Compher scored. And he’s the one who drove the entire play:

What a play. Total pizza from Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm, but it was still Kaut who corralled the puck and got it to Compher for the one-timer.

Meanwhile, Kaut also flexed his might a little. During the celebration, he legit punched Nikita Zodorov in the face:

https://twitter.com/Avalanche/status/1231083863956283394

It’s not too many hockey players who can punch Big Z in the face and walk away unscathed. However, Nikita obviously knows it was just Kaut’s irrepressible joy.

Meanwhile, poor Samuel Girard caught Compher’s stick in his face. Not a good moment to be an Avs d-man on the ice, I guess.

The Colorado Avalanche can’t rest on their laurels too much after this game. Tomorrow they have to face the LA Kings, the great demons of the Stadium Series game. (Besides the traffic, I mean.)

Nonetheless, I know two Czech boys who might find sleep difficult tonight.