Grubauer finds playoff mojo

Philipp Grubauer’s transformation from Stanley Cup Playoffs dud to stud required a year of reflection and a change of scenery.

His performance Thursday night in Game 4 against the Sharks? Brilliant.

The Avalanche goaltender stopped 32 shots in a 3-0 victory to even the series 2-2. It marked the first Colorado postseason shutout since 2010 (Craig Anderson, 1-0 in OT vs. the Sharks). Only five goaltenders in franchise history — Patrick Roy, David Aebischer, Dan Bouchard, Anderson and Grubauer — have at least one playoff shutout.

Grubauer also became the only German-born NHL goalie in history to record a postseason shutout.

“He’s making everything look easy,” defenseman Erik Johnson said. “When you have a goalie that’s doing that, I think it just trickles down your lineup. I can’t say enough good things about him and how well he’s played. … We believe in him.”

It’s a near 180-degree change in reputation compared to the previous NHL playoffs. Grubauer won a 2018 Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals, but was largely a spectator, having been benched in the first round by coach Barry Trotz. A warranted change, too, after Grubauer allowed a combined eight goals in two overtime losses to Columbus. Washington turned back to goalie Braden Holtby and claimed the championship.

“You definitely learn from it and move on,” Grubauer said.

His performance Thursday night provided continued redemption. Grubauer, now 12-3-2 in net since March 17, was at his best when Colorado needed him most. Coach Jared Bednar said his team went “brain dead at the end of the second period” after multiple defensive lapses gave San Jose breakaway opportunities. Grubauer never blinked.

“He made some big saves at key times for us,” Bednar said. “It was a big performance — no question.”

Grubauer has no intention of dwelling on the past. “It’s a whole year and a whole different team,” he said on Thursday. Yet Grubauer can still use the experience to help inspire his own title run as Colorado’s go-to goalie, as he explained during a sit-down interview with The Denver Post in April.

“You work for that your whole life, you grow up looking at the Stanley Cup as your goal, and to actually hold it and lift it and hoist it on the ice with the team you battle through the whole year with was unbelievable. I can’t even describe it,” Gruabuer said. “You want to create that same feeling in here. We know we can do that with this group.”

Grubauer is keeping Colorado’s championship dreams alive.