I think it is vastly inaccurate to say that Varly has been lit up or crushed in recent games. It is accurate to say the Avalanche team has been lit up or crushed in recent games. The team in front of Varly has committed turnovers allowed breakaways and given up back door plays that no goal tender can be expected to stop. As a result Varly has probably suffered some loss of confidence. I do not believe we will look back and say Grubauer won the job in his performance against Montreal. If he wins the starting job it will be the result of a series of consecutive outstanding outings not just one. In the Montreal game Grubauer had an outstanding effort but the Avs did not give up the turnovers they have been giving and when they did they covered them. I cannot remember any breakaways by Montreal nor can I think of any wide open back door plays that Grubauer had to stop. I know it is popular right now to throw Varly under the bus but it is not justified by the facts.

Question for the next pod, or maybe just a talking point.

I’m wondering right now if there isn’t something to the Avs playing better when they don’t do well in the dot. Hear me out lol. As a team that is winning the possession game they play at a pace that has them going 110%, but they don’t have the experience to not let the other team counter attack hard. They give up some nasty prime chances, and don’t have a 5 man defensive mentality.

When the team is losing in the dot more often and forced to play a counter attacking style where a lot more of their offense is generated off the rush I think they play better as a defensive unit. It puts the entire team in a different and much more responsible mindset. Obviously the ideal situation is games where the shot attempts are closer to even, but it’s a little weird how their slump this time also comes with much improved FO numbers. Obviously goal-tending has played a part as well, and that just adds to messing with their mindset.

Just wondering how you guys feel about that theory, and thought it might be an interesting topic. Thanks

So I have a question… What the hell is up with this team and too many men on the ice penalties? It’s every game it seems. That’s normally a couple times a year thing and this team is doing it over and over again… Thoughts?