Grubauer, Francouz to split time in net for Avalanche through round-robin

Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz will split time in net for the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference round-robin games, coach Jared Bednar said Tuesday.

Bednar said each will play Wednesday in an exhibition game against the Minnesota Wild (2:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, NHL.TV, FS-N, FS-WI, ALT) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the hub city for the 12 teams in the West.

The Avalanche play their first round-robin game Sunday against the St. Louis Blues (6:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV, SN360, TVAS2, ALT, FS-MW). They also play the Dallas Stars (Aug. 5) and Vegas Golden Knights (Aug. 8) to determine seeding for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the West.

"We're not going to announce anything [about a No. 1 goalie for the Stanley Cup Playoffs] because we have time," Bednar said. "I think it's important for our lineup to get into this exhibition game and I think it's important that both goalies play. We're going to split the net [Wednesday] with the goalies, give them both some time in game action against a real opponent.

"I expect them to split the round-robin games as well. I'd like to get both those guys playing and get some games under their belt before we head into the playoffs. Our decision for a starting goalie, our Game 1 goalie for playoffs, will be determined between now and then."

Grubauer went 18-12-4 this season with a 2.63 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 36 games. He missed the final 13 games with a lower-body injury sustained Feb. 15 against the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Francouz, in his first full NHL season, started 12 of the final 13 games (Michael Hutchinson got the other start) and went 8-2-2. He won six games in a row from Feb. 19-29 with a 1.32 goals-against average and .957 save percentage. He finished 21-7-4 with a 2.41 GAA and .923 save percentage in 34 games.

Grubauer said he was close to returning before the NHL paused the season March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

"I don't think there's a competition between Frankie and me," Grubauer said July 14 during training camp in Denver. "It's a competition between the Colorado Avalanche and whoever we're going to play. Whoever gets the call between the pipes has got to do his job. If you're not in the next game, the next guy's got to step up. It's a team sport and we all have to be ready."

Grubauer, who was the backup when the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, helped the Avalanche advance to the Western Conference Second Round last season, when they lost in seven games to the San Jose Sharks. He had a 7-5 record with a 2.30 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.

Francouz made two relief appearances for the Avalanche in 2018-19 after signing as a free agent. He played 49 games that season for Colorado of the American Hockey League.

"I think we're going to need both goalies to be ready," Francouz said. "I don't see any big competition here, there is just competition between the Colorado Avalanche and the other teams."