ST. LOUIS — Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov made his second start in three games Monday night and opposed future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur, who signed with the St. Louis Blues last month.
It was Brodeur’s first start and second appearance against the Patrick Roy-coached Avs. Former on-ice rivals, Brodeur, 42, and Roy, 49, rank first and second in career NHL wins by a goalie, with 690 and 551, respectively.
The Roy-led Avs beat Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals in a series that went seven games.
When asked if it’s special playing against Roy, the coach, Brodeur said: “Not really. Maybe he’ll play tonight. That would be fun.”
Brodeur came off the bench in relief of Jake Allen in a 5-0 loss to the Avalanche on Dec. 23 at the Pepsi Center.
Stastny’s line. Former Avs center Paul Stastny took the opening faceoff and the first draw to begin the second period, playing with enforcer Ryan Reaves and rookie Dmitrij Jaskin. The line helped create the Blues’ first two goals, and Stastny assisted on both.
Jaskin scored the first goal and defenseman Chris Butler — a former University of Denver standout — got the second in Colorado’s sloppy play to begin the middle frame.
Footnotes. Ryan O’Reilly required stitches above his left eye after taking a stick in the face when he was down on the ice during a 5-on-3 power play late in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Monday, O’Reilly continued to play without a visor. … In the previous six games against Colorado, St. Louis forwards T.J. Oshie (goal, six assists), Vladimir Tarasenko (three goals, three assists) and Alex Steen (three goals, assist) were hot. … Blues forward Jaden Schwartz of Colorado College remained out with an injury. … St. Louis placed forward Magnus Paajarvi, 23, on waivers Monday. Paajarvi was the 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft, by Edmonton, seven spots behind the Avs’ Matt Duchene.
