Semyon Varlamov will return to his starting perch in goal for the Colorado Avalanche , Avs coach Patrick Roy said.
“Varly is our No. 1 goalie,” Roy said. “It’s time for him. He’s been practicing really well. I think he’s ready to play tomorrow.”
Avs backup Reto Berra played well in two starts on the road, in a 35-save performance Friday, and Sunday.
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“I was very confident when we put him in for Anaheim,” Roy said of Berra. The Avs last season rode Varlamov to a 28-20 record. But Berra struggled as his backup and nearly lost his job to promising rookie Calvin Pickard.
Through five games this season, the tables turned. Varlamov is off to a rough start, with a horrible .841 save percentage in three games. He allowed five goals on 19 shots in last week before being replaced by Berra.
Rendulic down; Avs go with 22
The Avs on Wednesday dropped winger Borna Rendulic to the minor leagues, sending him to the San Anthonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.
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But Colorado won’t replace him. Roy will stick with a 22-man roster for the time being.
“We just wanted him to play,” Roy said of Rendulic. “We’re healthy right now. I was not planning to use him. Worst-case scenario, I was going to use seven defensemen.”
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or @nickgroke
