Varlamov is back in net as Bernier remains out
Colorado goalie Jonathan Bernier languished on the Avalanche bench for 10 games as the 29-year old Canadian recovered from a concussion before finally returning to the ice Saturday at Arizona.
The thrill of rejoining an Avs team pushing for the playoffs was short-lived, though, as Bernier faced a familiar obstacle early in the second period of Colorado’s 5-2 victory.
“He took a slap shot to the head,” Avs’ coach Jared Bednar said. “It kind of rung his bell a little bit.”
A sore neck led to a third-period departure for Bernier, Bednar added, as Colorado once again saw its hand forced making a change in net, with Semyon Varlamov filling the void. Bernier did not practice Monday, and while Bednar declined to give a timeline for his return, he said Bernier “is feeling a lot better today, so we’ll see how long this takes him.”
But multiple head/neck injuries over a short period of time are not to be taken lightly, and based on a Sunday roster move, it appears Varlamov will start through Colorado’s foreseeable future. The Avs recalled goalie Spencer Martin on Sunday from the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage as Varlamov’s anticipated backup. Martin, 22, last played for the Avs in February 2017 and allowed 13 goals over three losses.
If Bernier is unable to return before the completion of Colorado’s final 14 regular-season games, the team remains confident that Varlamov can hold down the net with poise. Although he allowed 11 goals over his last three starts (all overtime losses), Varlamov has also tallied 18 victories this season.
“(Varlamov) has been great,” Bednar said. “He had some time off when he retweaked his groin there midseason (with) three weeks or so off. He’s been getting lots of rest on practice days, so he looks good and feels good. Not a problem there for him carrying the load right now.”
Minnesota (36-21-7) will have revenge in mind when it hosts Colorado at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Avalanche, which for now holds the final Western Conference playoff spot, dominated the Wild 7-1 at home March 2.
“We’re going to expect these guys to come out hard, and they’re going to want to play a lot better than they did in our building,” Colorado forward Gabe Landeskog said. “I’m sure they want to show us that they’re not ready to give up a playoff spot to us. It’s going to be a fun game.”