Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov has been named the NHL's first star of the past week after winning all four of his starts with a 0.99 goals-against average and .972 save percentage.
Varlamov made 36 saves in a 2-1 win against Winnipeg, 27 saves in a 2-1 win against Buffalo, 33 saves in a 2-1 shootout win against St. Louis (along with three saves in the shootout) and 42 saves in Saturday's 3-1 win in Dallas when he essentially stole two points.
Varlamov has gone 13-4-2 in his past 19 games since Dec. 7. He has a 19-12-3 record overall with one shutout, a 2.59 average and .918 save percentage.
New Jersey right wing Lee Stempniak and St. Louis goalie Brian Elliott were named second and third stars, respectively.
Stempniak had four goals and one assist in three games for the Devils. Elliott went 2-1-1 with a 1.48 average and.955 save percentage.
*****
Coach Patrick Roy told the Denver Post that he expects right wing Jack Skille to be able to play Tuesday night in San Jose. Skille didn't take part in an optional practice Monday. He slid hard into the boards late in the first period Saturday in Dallas, sustained a back injury and didn't return.
*****
Calvin Pickard is scheduled to start in goal against the Sharks. He made 35 saves against the Sharks on Dec. 28 in a road 6-3 win. He played well in his other two starts this season, stopping 27 shots in a 3-0 win against New Jersey on Jan. 14 for his first NHL shutout, and 19 saves in a 2-1 loss at Columbus on Jan. 16.
Varlamov will start Wednesday in Los Angeles, the Avalanche's final game before the NHL All-Star break.
*****
How dominant were the Stars on Saturday in the Avalance's 3-1 win? They had 43 shots on goal, 32 blocked and 31 that missed the net for an unheard total of 106.
The Avalanche had a season low 15 shots on goal, along with nine that were blocked and eight that missed the net for a total of 32.
"This one goes under the category of an ugly win, and we're happy with that," Gabriel Landeskog said. "To be a good team and be a playoff team, you have to be able to win these ugly ones."
Defenseman Erik Johnson logged 23:49 in ice time after missing the previous nine games because of a lower-body injury. He blocked a team-high five shots and had one shot on goal. Four other players blocked three shots and six had two blocks.
The Avalanche didn't score on their one power play and are 1-for-18 in the past eight games. They killed four of five penalties, got shorthanded goals from Landeskog and Carl Soderberg, and have killed 20 of 23 penalties in eight games.