Semyon Varlamov remains the starter Saturday night when the Avalanche (3-1-0) face Calgary (2-2-0) at the Pepsi Center.
The
GAME NOTES.
Makes sense. Varlamov has won all three of his starts and owns a 1.33 goals-against average with a .955 save percentage. He made 30 saves Thursday in the Avalanche’s 6-1 win in Buffalo.
Philipp Grubauer played well in his lone appearance – he stopped 30 of 34 shots in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss in Columbus – but Varlamov has the hot hand, though he hasn’t been great against the Flames (7-7-1 career record, 3.05, .889).
“We’ve said we want to try and play the rested goalie if we can,” coach
Jared Bednar said after the morning skate. “We want to ride the hot goalie at times if we can. We’re trying to map out our plan week to week or every couple weeks and making sure that we’re keeping both these guys in action.
“We’d like to see them play teams that they’ve had success against in the past and in buildings where they’ve had success in the past, so we’re doing a little bit more homework that way. To this point in the season Varly’s been good, we’re coming off a day of rest and today’s decision was a tough one.
“We left it open and tried to make a decision after the game in Buffalo as to who we wanted to play tonight. Varly’s been so good and he’s coming off a day of rest, so want to give him the night again.”
Center
Nathan MacKinnon can tie the longest opening season goal streak in franchise history with a goal. He has a goal in each of the first four games – five goals in all -- and the record of five games was set by the Quebec Nordiques’
Mats Sundin in 1992-93.
Right wing
Mikko Rantanen has seven points (one goal, six assists) in a four-game assist streak. Defenseman
John-Michael Liles set the franchise record for longest streak with an assist to begin a season in 2010-11 (nine games, 11 assists).
Forward
Sven Andrighetto, who sustained a leg injury in training camp, took part in the morning skate while wearing a non-contact jersey. Bednar said he will skate the next few days and could join the Avalanche on the road next week. They play the New York Rangers on Tuesday to open a four-game road trip.
No details, but defense prospect
Conor Timmins posted to his Instagram account that he’s leaving Denver for a while. Timmins had been doing some skating as he recovers from post-concussion symptoms.
David Rittich will start in goal for Calgary. He stopped all eight shots he faced in the third period Thursday in relief of
Mike Smith in the Flames’ 5-3 loss in St. Louis.
The Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Alexander Kerfoot -- Tyson Jost -- Colin Wilson
Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg – Gabriel Bourque
Vladislav Kamenev -- J.T. Compher – Matt Calvert
DEFENSE
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson
Ian Cole – Tyson Barrie
Nikita Zadorov – Patrik Nemeth
GOALIES
Semyon Varlamov
Philipp Grubauer
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