Bednar Discusses Miska's Upcoming NHL Start
Jan 21, 2021
by Callie Parmele @CallieParmele / ColoradoAvalanche.com
There will be a couple firsts for Colorado Avalanche players tonight as the team takes on the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center in the first half of a back-to-back set.
The team will turn to goaltender Hunter Miska in net, with usual starter Philipp Grubauer likely playing in tomorrow night's contest at the Anaheim Ducks. It will be Miska's first NHL start and his second career game after appearing in relief for the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 13, 2018 at Detroit.
Colorado is in the middle of a four-games-in-six-nights stretch and turns to Miska to give Grubauer a bit of a break during this 56-game season. Grubauer played in each of the first three contests of the campaign, and Pavel Francouz is currently out after suffering a lower-body injury during Monday's practice. Grubauer will be the backup this evening.
Miska recorded a 16-6-3 record, 2.48 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in 26 games last season with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League. He also joined the Avs in the 2020 playoffs in Edmonton and served as the backup goaltender in the final three contests of the team's second-round series against the Dallas Stars.
Hear from Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar about Miska's NHL Debut
“Hunter has played some great hockey here for the Eagles going 16-6-3 and we are proud to see him get the start in net tonight for the Avalanche” said Eagles President and GM Chris Stewart.
Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings
Staples Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
