Avs goalie, health care hero named NHL’s “First Stars”

While Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer starred on the ice this past week, UCHealth frontline worker Maria Saavedra has been starring off it.

The pair were named the NHL’s “First Stars” of the week on Monday — Grubauer for his stunning play on the ice and Saavedra as part of the league’s celebration honoring frontline healthcare heroes hailing from the same region.

In four games for the Avs last week, Grubauer went 3-1-0 with a 1.24 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and one shutout.

After splitting a pair with the Arizona Coyotes early in the week, Grubauer stuffed Los Angeles on Friday for a 2-0 shutout — his career-high fourth of the season — and finished the week with another win on Sunday against the Kings.

A food service technician at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Saavedra helps prepare and deliver 1,500 food trays daily to patients ranging from those in the COVID-19 units to the burn center to postpartum and more.

In an interview with 9News in January, Saavedra said:

I enjoy people in general. I like talking to people, I like getting to know people. I think toward the beginning some people were scared to come to work. I was here every day. I started asking if I could pick up extra shifts. Those days were long, but it was worth it.

For their performances last week, Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl and Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers took the NHL’s second and third stars of the week.

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