Why can’t Alexandar Georgiev win back-to-back games?
By Steve Paulus
2017-18
Four times consecutive games started: 2-1-1 record, allowing 12 goals in four games.
One start on consecutive days: 0-1-0 record.
In his rookie season of 2017-18 no one knew what to expect from Georgiev. He came up to the NHL when back-up Ondrej Pavelec was injured and was very impressive, filling in for Henrik Lundqvist
He faced over 40 shots in two of those back-to-back games and won them both. The highlight was a 4-3 overtime win of the Penguins when he mad 37 saves including stopping a Evgeni Malkin penalty shot. Georgiev looked like the real thing.
2018-19
Nine times consecutive games started: 2-7-0 record, allowing 34 goals in nine games.
Two starts on consecutive days: 1-1-0 record.
In this season Georgiev began to show a real issue with winning when starting back-to-back games. He lost the first seven times and won his last two decisions against opponents who were more concerned about preparing for the playoffs than winning.
Twice he came in to relieve Henrik Lundqvist who was having bad games. He started the next game both times and lost them both. The other seven back-to-back games that he started all came after wins in which he allowed only two goals in regulation, but couldn’t follow up in most of them
He also began showing a propensity for allowing a lot of goals when starting back-to-back games. He gave up four goals or more in five of his nine consecutive starts.
On January 13, he started his second game in a row after a scintillating 2-1 win over the Islanders. He gave up seven goals in a 7-5 loss to Columbus.
On March 25, 2019 he was rewarded with his second straight start after a 45 save performance in a 2-1 win over Toronto,. The result, five goals given up in s 5-2 loss to the Penguins.
2019-20
14 times consecutive games started: 7-7-0 record, allowing 44 goals in 14 games.
Four times three consecutive games started: 1-3-0 record in the third game, allowing 13 goals.
Three starts on consecutive days: 1-2-0 record.
While Georgiev improved to .500 when starting back-to-back games, he had some pretty awful outings in the losses, allowing six goals three times and five goals three times. An example was in November when he posted a 4-1 win over Tampa and a 2-1 win over Nashville, two quality teams. He was rewarded with a third straight start and what followed was 6-2 loss to one of the worst teams in the NHL, the Ottawa Senators.
Barely two week later he led the team to a 3-2 overtime win over Pittsburgh. He got the start in the next game in Tampa and was pulled after giving up five goals on 26 shots.
On a positive note, he shut out the Golden Knights 5-0 in the third of three consecutive starts in which he allowed only four goals in three games (though he lost the middle game 3-2 to Columbus).
2020-21
Three times consecutive games started: 0-3-0 record, allowing nine goals.
One start on consecutive days: 0-1-0 record.
That brings us to this season. On January 19, he was coming off a shutout win over the Islanders. he gave up four goals on 20 shots in two periods and was pulled.
On February 28 he was coming off the Rangers 6-2 win over the Bruins when he gave up two goals in a 4-1 loss to Boston. He lucked out in not taking the loss as Shesterkin gave up the game winning goal while Georgiev was off for concussion protocol. He had 31 saves on 33 shots.
Sunday night he was pulled after 17 minutes and giving up three goals on six shots. So, in his three back-to-back starts he has given up nine goals on 59 shots for a save percentage of .847.