Avalanche goalie had been unavailable for 12 of the previous 18 games before he underwent season-ending hip surgery last week. So it’s not as this came out of nowhere.
But at least there will be no more uncertainty about his status in the remainder of the Avalanche season — he’s out and, barring injuries or surprise developments, and Spencer Martin will share the goaltending duties the rest of the season.
“We know he’s done for this season,” Avalanche coach said of Varlamov Monday. “We’re looking forward to getting a healthy Varly for next year. We need him to take care of that problem so he can get back in the net and find some consistency to his game.”
After the all-star break, the Avs reassembled for a Monday afternoon practice at the Family Sports Center, then traveled to Southern California, where they’ll meet Anaheim on Tuesday and Los Angeles on Wednesday to open a stretch run that includes 36 games in 69 nights. , the Avs’ representative on the Central Division roster at the All-Star Game festivities in Los Angeles over the weekend, was to meet the team in Anaheim.
Bednar said Pickard, who has a 3.01 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 23 games this season, will get the start in Anaheim. Then a decision will be made about whether he will come back the next night against the Kings.
“We know what position we’re in right now,” Pickard said. “But nothing’s going to change. I can’t put extra pressure on myself. Like the first couple months of the season, when I was playing every third or fourth game, I would just go out there to give my team a chance to win. That’s all you can ask for. That’s what I want to do and hopefully we can get a few wins.”
Touching on the compressed schedule, he noted: “In minors and junior, I’ve been used to playing a lot. That’s what the players like to do. They like to play rather than practice. We’re going to get a lot of rest time when we’re not playing.”
Martin, 21, returned to the San Antonio Rampage for the weekend and allowed four goals on 13 shots before being yanked in a 4-3 loss to the Ontario Reign on Saturday night. In 28 appearances for the Rampage this season, he has a 2.72 goals-against and a .912 save percentage. In two games with the Avalanche, back-to-back starts at Anaheim and San Jose, he is at 4.02 and .857.
“You don’t want to see anyone get hurt, whether it’s a goalie or a player,” Martin said of Varlamov’s injury giving him a chance. “I’ve been through it. I’ve missed eight months with an ACL a few years ago, so I know how much work you have to do to get back. But that’s part of the business, and as a guy coming up from the minors, you have to take those opportunities to get some ice time in the NHL and try to prove that you can play at this level.”
COLORADO AT ANAHEIM, 8 p.m. Tuesday, ALT, 950 AM
Spotlight on: Andrew Cogliano.
The Ducks’ forward has not missed a game since his NHL debut on Oct. 4, 2007. He is scheduled to play in his 756th consecutive game — the fifth-longest ironman streak, and most in 23 years, since Steve Larmer’s 884th consecutive game took place April 15, 1993. Doug Jarvis is the NHL’s all-time leader with 964 consecutive games from 1975-88. Garry Unger (914) is second on the list, followed by Larmer (884) and Craig Ramsay (776).
Գ:Defenseman Erik Johnson briefly skated on his own before practice, his first time on the ice since he suffered a broken fibula against Dallas on Dec. 3. “We’ll see how he reacts to that,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “He’s been working hard in the gym for quite some time. We got him the slideboard last weekend. Now he’s hitting the ice, so things are trending in a positive fashion there. We’d like to see him get back, but there’s no timelline on that.” … The Avalanche won’t have a morning skate Tuesday. . . Defenseman Tyson Barrie and winger Rene Bourque. who were out in the final games before the all-star break with lower body injuries, will return to the lineup against the Ducks. Said Barrie: “It’s something I’ve had before in the past, nothing serious, just something that nags me a little bit from time to time. But we worked hard to get over it. I’m comfortable where I’m at now and I’m looking forward to getting back in the lineup.”
Ducks: They are 2-0 against Colorado, winning 4-1 on Jan. 12 in Denver and 2-1 on Jan. 19 at Honda Center. … Anaheim’s .618 winning percentage is its third-best coming out of an all-star break, trailing only 2014-15 (.723) and 2006-07 (.680). They are 9-3-1 in January and 10-3-3 since Christmas. … Defenseman Cam Fowler, 25, was a first-time NHL all-star last weekend in Los Angeles, becoming the youngest blueliner in franchise history to appear in the mid-season showcase. … Center and team captain Ryan Getzlaf leads Anaheim skaters in career scoring against Colorado with 34 points (11 goals) in 38 games.
Mike Chambers and Terry Frei, The Denver Post
