Solid goaltending combined with efficient penalty killing carried the day for the Avalanche on Monday in a 4-0 win in Boston to complete a season-opening 2-1-0 road trip.
Semyon Varlamov was excellent again, stopping 29 shots for his 18th shutout as a member of the Avalanche and 22nd of his NHL career.
The Avalanche killed all four of the Bruins' power plays after allowing four power-play goals in the first two games. They spent a bulk of practice Sunday working on the PK, among other things emphasizing clearing the puck as quickly as possible.
The Avalanche still haven't permitted an even-strength goal.
Nail Yakupov collected his first two goals of the season, while Sven Andrighetto and J.T. Compher each scored their first in the opening period.
Varlamov wasn't tested as nearly as often as he was Thursday when he had 37 saves in a 4-2 win against the New York Rangers, a positive step for the team.
“It’s a good start for me," said Varlamov, who had surgery on each of his hips midway through last season. "I didn’t play for a long time. Came back and started the season with two wins. It brings confidence to the team. I thought today we played a very solid game.…
The Avalanche have gone 11-0-1 in their past 12 visits to Boston. The teams meet again Wednesday at the Pepsi Center in Colorado's home opener.
Carl Soderberg, a healthy scratch against the Rangers, scored the lone goal Saturday in a 4-1 loss to New Jersey and set up Compher's shorthanded goal on a 2-on-1 rush.
"I think we are fortunate to be 2-1," coach Jared Bednar said. "In game one we relied on our goalie too much. Game two, our goalie (Jonathan Bernier) was great too, but we didn't get enough offensive production.
"Our best game of the road trip was certainly our third. So, to be 2-1 and come in to Boston and play a good team, and to be able to get a good solid win, it's a little bit of a sign of maturity growth for our team."
Yakupov scored twice in the third period, both goals into an empty net.
He gave the Avalanche a 3-0 lead at 6:07 when he raced into the Bruins end after a loose puck and made a move on goalie Tuukka Rask, who left the net in an attempt to get to the puck. Yakupov was credited with his second goal with 44 seconds remaining following a video review. It was ruled that Boston's David Pastrnak prevented him from scoring into the empty net by deliberately displacing the goal posts.
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Two days after former Avalanche star and Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg said the team should bench Matt Duchene and trade him if he wants out, Duchene said he didn't take the comments personally. Forsberg made the comments Saturday on Swedish television.
"He and I have a great relationship," Duchene told the Denver Post on Monday. "So I’m not taking it personally. I think he’s just commenting on the situation. A lot can get lost in translation. He was a guy I idolized growing up. I still have the same admiration and respect for him as a player and a guy; he was a guy I looked up to a lot as a kid.…
Duchene, who has been the subject of trade rumors since last season, hasn't talked about his situation since he said he reported to training camp to honor his contract and out of respect for teammates and fans.
"It’s hard for someone to say that that’s outside of our room, you know?… Bednar said of Forsberg.
“There were rumors last year -- there always are around a last-place club -- but some of the rumors have been going on for quite some time. So our focus is playing hockey, and I think that’s what Matt’s done a real good job of, coming in here and focusing on playing the game, being productive and being a good pro.…