The Avalanche had another poor start, fell behind by two goals and managed to get a point Thursday in a 3-2 overtime loss in Edmonton, but only because goalie Semyon Varlamov kept them in it long enough to get to the extra period.

It's simply baffling how a team fighting for a playoff position can begin a game with such a poor compete level.

They overcome a 4-1 deficit Tuesday in Vancouver, pulling out a 5-4 overtime win by going 5-of-6 on power plays, but this slumbering act to start games can't continue.

With 22 games remaining the Avalanche are three points behind St. Louis for the second wild card position in the Western Conference, two points behind Calgary -- Saturday's opponent to end the three-game road trip -- and Los Angeles.

Coach Jared Bednar was pretty peeved with the way they played against the Oilers, whose only two wins in their past nine games have come against the Avalanche.

He even benched defenseman Nikita Zadorov for the third period despite already missing three injured regulars (Mark Barberio, Erik Johnson and Anton Lindholm).

“It’s not one play," Bednar told reporters, referring to Zadorov's second-period turnover that led to an Oilers goal and 2-0 lead. "We have expectations for guys to play to a certain level, and they’re expected to play at the level, and he wasn’t doing it, so we decided to not play him.

"To be honest, we had too many guys like that tonight. The bench was probably too short for the time of the year that we’re in. It wasn’t a great game by us. I think they had a good game. I don’t think we did. For me, I think we’re lucky to get a point out of that one.”

Varlamov had 19 saves in the scoreless first period and finished with 43 for the game.

The Avalanche got goals from Samuel Girard and Colin Wilson to tie the game before Oilers star Connor McDavid scored in overtime. He scored six goals in the three games between the teams this season, with a hat trick in last Sunday's 4-2 Edmonton win.

"The point is always good, but we need two points," Varlamov said. "We know where we're at in the standings. We're battling for the playoffs."

Varlamov will make his fourth consecutive start Saturday against the Flames, who ended a three-game losing streak Thursday with a 5-2 win in Arizona.

"It’s frustrating the way we played,” Varlamov said. “The first half of the game, I think we should have a better start. We’re in a situation that we have to battle every game. We can’t give up two goals and then start playing the game. We should learn how to play all 60 minutes and play with the lead.”

It's a lesson that should already have been learned 60 games into the season.



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