The Avalanche completed their six-game preseason schedule with a 4-2-0 record after winning 4-2 in Las Vegas on Thursday night, but coach Jared Bednar wasn't pleased with the way things went against the expansion team.
"We have some significant work to do," he said after practice Friday. "We have to be better than that come the regular season if we want to win. The last two games we did some good things in a lot of areas, but we also relied on our goaltender too much, in my opinion."
Semyon Varlamov was excellent in goal again, as the Avalanche were outshot 36-22 on Thursday. On Monday in Dallas, the Avalanche also won 4-2 despite getting outshot 27-14 over the final two periods and 36-24 overall.
Varlamov stopped nine of 10 third-period shots against the Stars after relieving Jonathan Bernier (one goal, 26 shots), who sustained a groin injury and hasn't been on the ice since.
"(Vegas) controlled the game for too much for too big a period of time," Bednar said. "In Dallas we had a real good start and they took it over. We kind of bounced back a little bit, but (Thursday) night we relied on our goaltender too much."
It's why Bednar is fine with the fact that the Avalanche will have plenty of practice time before next Thursday's season opener against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
"Well, we've got some work to do, we need some time here," Bednar said. "We don't want (the layoff) to be too long, but we had a decent practice today, will have a real good practice (Saturday), will get everyone back on the ice."
The Avalanche will be off Sunday and return to practice Monday.
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The Avalanche put defenseman Duncan Siemens on waivers Friday, which sure seems like he will miss out -- again -- on opening the season with the NHL team.
But he practiced Friday and Bednar didn't say he's headed to AHL San Antonio.
"Not just yet," he said. "I think that move gives us a little flexibility, but for now he's with us."
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Defenseman Chris Bigras helped his chances of sticking Thursday with a solid game that included two assists. He was paired with Tyson Barrie.
"It was a good night for him," Bednar said. "His trajectory over the last week or so has been going in the right direction. He's another guy who's finding a way to contribute on the scoresheet, makes a real nice play on the (Tyson) Jost goal last night, kept the puck alive from low to high."
The Avalanche also got goals from Sven Andrighetto, Nathan MacKinnon and Nail Yakupov. Rookie Alex Kerfoot picked up another assist, giving him five points (two goals, three assists) in five games.
"We knew he was smart, we knew he could make plays, that he would be an offensive guy," Bednar said of Kerfoot, who spent four years at Harvard. "We thought he had a lot of potential, so we wanted to give him the opportunity to see how he did with skill players.
"Right now he's handling himself real well, finding a way to get on the scoresheet every night. His speed is deceptive, he's got a lot of legs underneath him and he's a real competitive guy, has a high hockey IQ. We like what we're seeing from him right now."
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As for defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who reported late because of contract and then immigration issues:
"You miss a good portion of training camp," Bednar said. "As teams get rolling ... missing camp's tough. He's put himself behind the 8-ball a little bit here. He's got some work to do to get ready for the regular season."
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Erik Johnson, MacKinnon and Varlamov were given Friday off. Joe Colborne (back) did drills while wearing a non-contact jersey and is expected to take part in regular practice Monday or Tuesday. A.J. Greer (concussion protocol) skated on his own, is working out off the ice and is being evaluated on a daily basis.