Semyon Varlamov won't be a pleasant guy to be around if he gives up five goals once the regular season starts, and he wasn't exactly smiling Sunday after allowing five goals on 28 shots in the Avalanche's Burgundy and White game at the University of Denver's Magness Arena.
But the fact that he was able to move easily in the crease without a hint of pain while going the distance for the Burgundy in a 6-2 loss was all that really mattered on this occasion.
"I felt good physically," Varlamov said. "Even if I give up five goals, of course I'm not happy about it, but physically I feel good. I'm not even tired, so conditioning is good. I just need to get back into game shape. I feel good in practices and it's time to play in the real games.
"I was very excited, actually, even though we were playing against each other, a friendly game. It's exciting to be at the rink like this. This was for me a real game."
The Avalanche shut him down last season after he allowed five goals on 26 shots in a 6-4 loss to Chicago on Jan. 17. Shortly after that, he underwent two hip surgeries -- one on each hip, four weeks apart -- in the hope this will put an end to the frequent groin injuries that have plagued his career.
"He says he feels good and healthy and strong," coach
Jared Bednar said. "We know he's put a lot of work into his conditioning to get back. I expect him to keep progressing. We have to get him back in the net and seeing some pucks in game situations."
Varlamov gave up three goals -- two to
J.T. Compher -- on 11 shots in the first period, but he stopped 15 of 17 shots the rest of the way.
"He got hung out to dry on a couple of those goals," Bednar said. "It was important to get him in a game, to start getting him back in game rhythm. It's been a long road to recovery and we only have six exhibition games, so we want to get him in as many games as we can."
Varlamov started skating in mid-July and took part in voluntary team practices a week before training camp started Thursday.
"It was very important to me to start playing," he said. "We were thinking, should I play this game or not? It was good I had a chance to play all 60 minutes because it's been a long time. I felt a little uncomfortable in the beginning, but as the game went I felt more and more comfortable.
"It's important to feel the game, you know? The guys are very fast. It looks like everyone's flying right now on the ice. It takes time for me to get adjusted to the game. I need to play a couple more games before the season starts."
The Avalanche open preseason play Tuesday against Vegas at the Pepsi Center. Varlamov said he expects to play Thursday against Dallas.
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Only a handful of veterans played Sunday, as you can see from the lineups.
Compher was terrific. He skated on several different lines, as did all the forwards. He scored on a breakaway and off a nice setup from
Nail Yakupov, who also looked good with two assists.
"I thought those guys did a great job, but you expect some of those guys to be good in a game like this against prospects and veteran guys," Bednar said. "Yak made a couple nice plays and Compher (made) two perfect shots.
"J.T.'s skating noticeably well. You look at his physical testing, it was great. He goes into rookie camp, he's moving, a real competitive guy. Even in a game with veterans mixed in today he looks like he's moving real well."
Travis Barron, 19, had two goals (the second an empty-net goal) and an assist. He was a seventh-round pick (No. 191) in 2016 and had 34 points (13 goals) in 59 games for Ottawa in the OHL last season.
Spencer Martin and former DU star
Sam Brittain split time in goal for the White team. Martin started and stopped 10 of 11 shots in 31:09. Brittain, in camp on a professional tryout, turned aside 17 of 18 shots in 28:51.
Bednar was impressed with defenseman
Andrei Mironov, who is on a two-year, entry-level contract after playing five seasons with Dynamo Moscow in the KHL.
"I think he's getting better every day," Bednar said. "He's playing his first games on smaller ice. It's scrambly and things are happening real quick for him, so he turns some pucks over. You watch him in practices, he starts to look a little bit more comfortable every day with the tempo and speed of the game.
"(Today) it looks like it's slowing down for him a little more. He defends hard and he's a real competitive guy. I think his puck placement gets better as he gets used to the ice."
Mironov isn't known as much of a scorer, but he beat Varlamov with a shot from just inside the blue line late in the third period.
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