16. Colorado hired Jussi Parkkila as its goalie coach last summer because of his familiarity with Semyon Varlamov. However, the true Avalanche netminding success story is Jonathan Bernier, who beat the Maple Leafs on Monday night for the team’s 10th-straight victory. Parkkila admitted he and Bernier didn’t know each other at all. What was the first thing Parkkila noticed about his newest pupil? “No bad days,” he answered. That’s huge for Bernier, and a big change. When he was going through difficult times in Toronto, he wore it. Very openly. It’s a difficult way to live, especially in that market.
17. As for technical changes, Parkkila says the biggest adjustment was in Bernier’s “reverse VH.” He and I talked while walking to the Colorado bus, so I didn’t have time to pry further. When that happens, a call goes out to the “goalie whisperer,” InGoal Magazine’s Kevin Woodley. He did see some obvious differences.
“The change is very noticeable,” Woodley wrote via text. “Basically, he used to be inconsistent with how he went into his posts, sometimes with blade of skate on post, sometimes with shin of pad on post and less often with bottom edge of pad (toe box) on post. Now it’s consistently toe box, he does it consistently and more often (used to stay up on his skates more) and his entry into and exit off the posts are noticeably cleaner…He is cleaner and crisper in movement, bit more spot to spot, with proper rotation, and less flow than last year. Leaves him square more, set earlier, not caught moving as much, beating plays on his skates. Also seems to be a little more upright, slightly narrower stance, not getting hunched over and spread out.”
Still half a season to go, but Bernier is a big comeback story so far.
