Avalanche goaltender Calvin Pickard prepares to face the Chicago Blackhawks at Pepsi Center on Dec. 27. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
Calvin Pickard was recalled from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League on Monday as a precautionary measure should Semyon Varlamov not feel 100 percent at Tuesday’s morning skate, before the Avalanche hosts the Los Angeles Kings in another national televised game between the teams at the Pepsi Center (NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.). Pickard, 22, is coming off his in Cleveland on Sunday.
Just 22 and in his third pro season, “Picks” already has 52 AHL victories. He’s been similarly good in the NHL. Among NHL goalies with at least 14 games played this season, Pickard’s .936 saves percentage is tied for first with Montreal’s Carey Price and Chicago backup Antti Raanta. In 15 games with the Avs, Pickard is 6-6-2 with a 2.18 GAA.
Varlamov is said to have a lower-body injury, suffered late in . There was no practice or availability Monday. Varlamov suffered a shoulder/chest/neck injury earlier in Sunday’s game but apparently the bigger issue is to the lower body.
He was replaced Sunday by Reto Berra, who allowed a goal on four shots in 5:44 of work. He was peppered at the end with a 6-on-5 attack.
