Call him stubborn if you want, but Avalanche coach Patrick Roy plans to start goalie Semyon Varlamov in Edmonton on Wednesday and again on Thursday in Vancouver, saying the team is "not going to give up" despite being 10 points out of the playoffs with 10 games to play.
I don't have a problem with it. Starting Reto Berra while the Avalanche is mathematically -- if not realistically -- still in the hunt would be the same as running up a white flag as a sign of surrender. It'll happen soon enough.
Here are the game notes.
Berra will eventually get his chance to show if he's worth sticking around next season as Varlamov's backup -- we all know what Calvin Pickard can do -- or if he can somehow play well enough to tempt a desperate team to take a chance on him in a trade. (The odds of the Avalanche making the playoffs this season might be better.)
Berra hasn't started since Dec. 5 against Arizona, when he was yanked in the first period after giving up three goals on eight shots. Pickard relieved -- Varlamov was out with a groin injury at the time -- and the Avalanche turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 win.
Berra has played five times since, all in relief.
Varlamov will start for the 36th time in 38 games. He's gone 6-1-1 in his past eight starts with a 1.63 goals-against average and .949 save percentage.
"I understand that our situation does not look good, with the fact that Winnipeg and Minnesota are winning their games," Roy told the Denver Post. "But at the same time, as a coaching staff and the players, we feel that we believe in ourselves.
"We're going to continue to play the same way. We want to continue to play with the same intensity level that we've been playing lately. We want to play them one game at a time and see where we are."
Varlamov said he feels fine despite the heavy workload.
"As long as the head coach wants me to play every game, I'm excited about it, very happy," he said. "I am preparing myself to play those two games. Right now the most important thing for me is to rest and get ready. Nobody on this team is giving up. We are going to battle until the end of the season for sure."
The Avalanche and Oilers didn't skate Wednesday morning.
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The Avalanche on Tuesday announced the signing of defenseman Mason Geertsen to a three-year, entry-level contract. Geertsen, who turns 20 on April 19, was a fourth-round pick (93rd overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft.
The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Geertsen had 13 goals, 25 assists, 107 penalty minutes and a plus-3 plus/minus rating in 69 games this season with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.
"Mason is coming off a strong junior season,… Avalanche VP/general manager Joe Sakic said. “We are pleased to have him under contract and look forward to seeing him at training camp.…
The Giants completed their season Saturday with a 5-2 loss to Kelowna and finished 27-41-2-2 and in last place in the B.C. Division of the Western Conference. The Giants on Wednesday announced that they and coach Claude Noel mutually agreed to part ways, saying Noel wants to pursue a position in the pro ranks. They went 18-25-2-2 under Noel, who replaced Troy Ward on Nov. 30.
Geertsen was an assistant captain the past two seasons and was named acting captain late this year after Dalton Sward sustained a season-ending broken hand. Geertsen had 19 goals, 52 assists and 331 penalty minutes in 193 games over parts of three seasons with the Giants. He began his WHL career with the Edmonton Oil Kings and had seven assists and 106 penalty minutes in 52 games with them.
"My goal is to have a strong summer and be good going into camp and make a good impression," he told the Vancouver Province. "I have to get stronger and faster."
Geertsen won the P.C. Toigo Award as team MVP and the Pat Quinn Award as its best defenseman.
"Mason took huge steps in his game this year,… Giants general manager Scott Bonner told the team web site. “He was without a doubt our most valuable player and I am sure he will succeed at the NHL level.…
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Here's the Avalanche's projected lineup:
FORWARDS Gabriel Landeskog - Ryan O'Reilly - Alex Tanguay John Mitchell - Matt Duchene - Jarome Iginla Cody McLeod - Marc-Andre Cliche - Dennis Everberg Jordan Caron - Joey Hishon - Daniel Briere
DEFENSE Jan Hejda - Zach Redmond Nate Guenin - Tyson Barrie Brad Stuart - Nick Holden
GOALIES Semyon Varlamov Reto Berra