Avalanche G Grubauer leaves early with injury


Reuters | Colorado | Updated: 08-12-2019 07:03 IST | Created: 08-12-2019 07:01 IST
Avalanche G Grubauer leaves early with injury
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Colorado Avalanche top goaltender Philipp Grubauer left Saturday's game in Boston during the first period after an injury. Grubauer made a lunge to his right on a Brett Ritchie breakaway late in the first period, then dropped his head in apparent pain as the puck went back up the ice. He remained in the goal for a few minutes without facing a shot, appearing to be trying to stretch when the puck wasn't near.

Play finally stopped when Valeri Nichushkin scored for Colorado with 2:35 left in the period. While his teammates celebrated the goal, Grubauer skated straight to the bench, slammed his stick on the boards and headed to the locker room. Grubauer made three saves on the Bruins' four shots before leaving. He was replaced by backup Pavel Francouz, although Grubauer returned to the bench in his full gear in the second period.

Grubauer, 28, missed two-plus weeks in November with a lower-body injury, believed to be a groin issue. Francouz also missed a stretch in November, prompting the Avs to call up minor-leaguers Adam Werner and Antoine Bibeau for a span of three games. Bibeau, who won his only start Nov. 16 at Vancouver, has since had hip surgery and is not healthy, according to the team's broadcast.

Grubauer entered Saturday with a 10-5-2 record, 2.75 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 17 games (all starts) this season. He is in his second year in Colorado after arriving via trade in June 2018. 

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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