Preds may draw Varlamov in goalie’s 16th consecutive game

» Avalanche goaltender ST. LOUIS Semyon Varlamov made his 15th consecutive appearance Thursday, and he may be called upon to complete Colorado’s back- to- back stretch with travel Friday when the Nashville Predators visit the Pepsi Center.

Avs coach Jared Bednar has two options Friday against the Western Conference- leading Preds: A tired Varlamov or rookie Spencer Martin, the latter of whom is No. 4 on the organizational depth chart and has played in just three NHL games and none this season.

Colorado has two other goalies on the nonactive roster, but Jonathan Bernier and Andrew Hammond haven’t been cleared from head injuries, Bednar said.

The coach said he and his staff would evaluate the situation after Thursday’s game. The Avs didn’t return to Denver until early Friday morning, and they won’t have a morning skate at the Pepsi Center.

Nashville also has a consecutivenight set, having played at Arizona on Thursday.

House of horror. The Avalanche’s recent record against the St. Louis Blues is ugly — particularly at the Scottrade Center, where the playoff- contending teams collided Thursday.

The Blues entered 3- 0 against Colorado this season, had won four in a row in the series and earned points in the previous 15 games ( 12- 0- 3). St. Louis was on a five- game winning streak over the Avs at the Scottrade Center, where it had won 13 of the last 15 meetings ( 13- 2- 0).

“It’s just one of those buildings where it’s been tough to play in, and obviously they’ve had some good teams,” Avs defenseman Tyson Barrie said after Thursday’s morning skate. “But at this point, we’re not even thinking about that. We’re at a different point in our game, a different point in our year. We’re a different team.”

Footnotes. Goalie Nicole Hensley of Lakewood and the U. S. women’s Olympic team made the ceremonial puck drop. She starred at nearby Lindenwood University and set the all- time saves record in NCAA women’s history. … Blues defenseman Joel Edmondson returned to the lineup Thursday after missing 13 games with a broken arm — an injury he suffered by blocking a shot against the Avs on Feb. 8. … The Avs entered Thursday having produced points in eight consecutive games ( 5- 0- 3) and 10 of their previous 11 ( 6- 1- 4). They took an eight- game power- play goal streak into the Scottrade Center, where they hadn’t scored with the man advantage in the previous eight games. St. Louis had killed off 38 of its last 40 penalties at home against the Avs. “It’s a tough building to score in, so once you get the man advantage, you really have to capitalize,” Barrie said.