Philipp Grubauer came up big for the Colorado Avalanche in the fourth game of their second-round series against the San Jose Sharks. The 27-year-old netminder, who came to the Avs in a summer trade from the Washington Capitals, made 32 saves in his first ever playoff shutout win.
His performance makes him the first German-born player to get a shutout in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was the first star of the game and the NHLPA’s Playoff Performer of the Night.
🇩🇪 Philipp Grubauer earned Playoff Performer of the Night with 32 saves in his first #StanleyCup Playoffs shutout, while also becoming the 1st German-born netminder to accomplish the feat. More on the 3-0 win that tied the @Avalanche's second-round series: https://t.co/u5FKzHQoBl pic.twitter.com/XVgiqyve6X
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) May 3, 2019
Through nine playoff games with the Avalanche, Grubauer has posted a 2.17 goals against average and a 0.93 save percentage. The Hurricanes’ Petr Mrazek is the only goaltender with two shutouts and the Capitals’ Braden Holtby is one of four goaltenders now tied with one shutout apiece.
Grubauer’s most impressive save of the night was this beauty in the second period against Sharks’ forward Gustav Nyquist.
Kevin Weekes on NHL Tonight had only good things to say about Grubauer’s performance in net.
"I thought that he looked very poised in the net." – @KevinWeekes on @philgrubauer31's Game Four performance that helped the @Avalanche even the series. #NHLTonight #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/PnRFUkCa5g
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) May 3, 2019
The Capitals’ Olie Kolzig was born in South Africa to German parents, played for the German national team, and was an idol of Grubauer’s growing up. Kolzig recorded six postseason shutouts during his NHL career and worked with Grubauer as the Capitals’ associate goalie coach.
The Avalanche play Game Five on Saturday in San Jose. The series is currently even at 2-2.
Headline photo: @coloradoavalanche
