Goalie Semyon Varlamov is pretty content these days, happy to be healthy again following the two hip surgeries he underwent around the halfway point of last season to solve the chronic groin problems that have plagued his career.
It also helps to be playing for an Avalanche team that still has hope of making a run for a playoff position, unlike at this time a year ago.
"It's a different mentality when you're in a playoff mix," Varlamov said Saturday while about a dozen teammates were taking part in a rather casual optional practice. "You're coming to the rink and you're excited because you want to make the playoffs, you know?
"When you're out of the playoffs by December or January or February, there's no emotions going on. You're just thinking like, 'When's the season going to be over?' It kind of sucks to think that way, but that's how I felt last year because we had no chance to make the playoffs. We were just trying to play for the fans, but it was really hard to come to the locker room every morning.
"This year it's exciting, definitely."
Varlamov is expected to make his sixth consecutive start Sunday when the Avalanche play the New York Islanders at the Pepsi Center to close out the calendar year. He had 31 saves Friday in their 4-3 overtime win against Toronto and has gone 4-1-1 in his past six games while limiting opponents to 13 goals.
"I like the way he's playing," coach Jared Bednar said. "He's feeling healthy, he's feeling like he can play more games. He's playing well in our games, he's giving us a chance to win every night. I think he's only going to get better as the season goes on."
Varlamov's overall numbers don't compare to the ones he put up in 2013-14 (41 wins, 2.41 goals-against average, .927 save percentage) when he was a Vezina Trophy finalist and led the Avalanche to the playoffs.
He has a 13-9-2 record in 25 games this season with a 2.94 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.
"Having missed (the final 40 games last year) and kind of easing him into the season, and now he's kind of hitting his stride," said Bednar, adding that he expects Varlamov to play around 55 games. "He's getting our team wins, which is the most important thing."
Backup Jonathan Bernier, who signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract as a free agent on July 1, has a 5-7-1 record in 13 games with one shutout, a 3.29 goals-against average and .893 save percentage.
Varlamov acknowledged he was concerned about undergoing what he called "probably one of the toughest surgeries" for a hockey player.
The Avalanche were obviously confident he'd be fine because they protected him rather than Calvin Pickard in the June expansion draft to stock Vegas even though Varlamov is signed through the 2018-19 season with a salary cap hit of $5.9 million.
"When you're coming back from this kind of surgery of course you never know how your body is going to react," Varlamov said. "I've read some stories about hockey players who've come back and reinjured themselves. I was kind of worried, but our medical staff did a great job for me.
"I'm moving pretty good, feeling really good. Groin's feeling good, hips feeling good."
The vibe around the team is greatly improved as well, Varlamov said.
"Completely different team this year," he said. "Great atmosphere in the locker room."
With an 18-16-3 record and 39 points, the Avalanche are four points behind Minnesota for the second wild card into the Western Conference playoffs. They are 14 points ahead of last season's horrid 12-24-1 start.
"It's good to be right in the mix," Varlamov said.
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Bednar said center J.T. Compher was being evaluated Saturday for an upper-body injury he sustained Friday. He didn't have any details and didn't expect to have a prognosis until Sunday.
Despite absorbing an earlier hit that apparently didn't make him feel all that great, Compher remained in the game and scored a power-play goal with 1:35 left in overtime to give the Avalanche their win against the Maple Leafs.