INJURED VARLY WILL SIT AT LEAST 2 MORE WEEKS

Semyon Varlamov, the Avalanche’s top goaltender, will miss at least two weeks, coach Jared Bednar said Friday, with what is apparently a lingering groin strain.

“He’s not ready,” Bednar said. “The goal is to get him back on the ice before the all-star break.”

The Avs on Thursday called up goaltender Andrew Hammond to back up now-No. 1 goalie Jonathan Bernier, who last week was voted the NHL’s second star. Bernier will be the starter Saturday night in Dallas against the Stars.

The Avs haven’t been specific about Varlamov’s injury, saying only that it’s a lower-body muscular injury.

Varlamov was injured Jan. 2 playing against the Winnipeg Jets and had to leave the game early.

Last season, Varlamov had season-ending surgery for an injured hip on Jan. 26, 2017. But his issue with groin injuries dates back to at least 2014.

Bednar said the details of Varlamov’s injury are murky. “Groins and hips and everything, he’s got a strain there,” the coach said.

Varlamov has started 25 games this season, posting a 13-9-2 record (ranking 20th in the NHL for wins), a .912 save percentage (21st) and a 2.87 goals-against average (25th).

“The plan is to be cautious with him,” Bednar said, “and then turn him loose for the second half.”

After the Avs play at St. Louis

on Jan. 25, they are off for the NHL all-star break, then return to play at Vancouver against the Canucks on Jan. 30.

Roster report. The Avs also called up forward AJ Greer and defenseman David Warsofsky, along with Hammond, from the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.

Greer and Hammond had been with Colorado but were sent down for playing time during the Avs’ bye week.

Colorado sent down defenseman Andrei Mironov to give the 23-yearold more ice time.

Injury report. Winger J.T. Compher (upper body) wore a red practice jersey Friday, denoting his injury, and he didn’t travel with the team to Dallas, Bednar said. The Avs will evaluate Compher again Saturday and if he checks out medically, “he is a possibility for the Anaheim game” at the Pepsi Center on Monday, Bednar said.

Winger Sven Andrighetto, though, “is a step behind Compher right now,” Bednar said. He will skate on his own through the weekend while working back from a leg injury.