I thought Reto Berra deserved to start against the New York Rangers on Thursday when the Avalanche continue their road trip, but coach Patrick Roy is going with Semyon Varlamov.
Here are the game notes.
Berra made 27 saves Tuesday in the Avalanche's 2-1 win in New Jersey and has far better numbers than Varlamov, who has a 3.28 goals-against average and .887 save percentage this season; he's coming off Monday's 5-3 loss to the Islanders when he gave up four goals on 27 shots.
Yeah, I know Varlamov is the "No. 1 guy," but he's gone 4-3-0 in his career against the Rangers with a 3.52 average and .886 save percentage.
Berra owns a 2.26 goals-against average and .927 save percentage on the season. He made 31 saves in a 2-1 home loss to the Rangers on Nov. 6, his only game against them.
Antti Raanta is expected to start in goal for the Rangers after Henrik Lundqvist played Wednesday in their 2-1 shootout loss to the Islanders.
Raanta has played really well in limited action, posting a 4-1-0 record with a 1.36 goals-against average and .952 save percentage. He's 1-1-0 against the Avalanche with a 2.55 average and .889 save percentage.
Alex Tanguay will be in the Avalanche lineup after missing 11 games with the knee injury he sustained against the Rangers at the Pepsi Center. He'll be on a line with Mikhail Grigorenko and Jarome Iginla.
Forward Andreas Martinsen will be scratched, along with defenseman Zach Redmond.
Here's the Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS Gabriel Landeskog - Nathan MacKinnon - Matt Duchene Alex Tanguay - Mikhail Grigorenko - Jarome Iginla Blake Comeau - Carl Soderberg - John Mitchell Cody McLeod - Chris Wagner - Jack Skille
DEFENSE Francois Beauchemin - Erik Johnson Nick Holden - Tyson Barrie Brandon Gormley - Nate Guenin
GOALIES Semyon Varlamov Reto Berra