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Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov Shrinks

By Jeremy Lambert

Feb 11, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) warms up prior to the start of the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Avalanche defeated the Senators 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) warms up prior to the start of the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Avalanche defeated the Senators 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /
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With a big game looming against the Minnesota Wild, the Colorado Avalanche need a clutch performance by goalie Semyon Varlamov. Can he deliver?

Semyon Varlamov is a very good goalie. He carried the Colorado Avalanche to a division title two years ago and was a legitimate MVP candidate that year. He faces 30 shots a game and is asked to stand on his head night in and night out. Without Varlamov, the Avs likely wouldn’t be in the position that they’re currently in, which is a playoff spot.

None of that changes the fact that he disappears in the big moment.

Game 7 against the Minnesota Wild two seasons ago. The Avs blew four one-goal leads before losing five minutes into overtime. Varlamov was not good in this game and couldn’t come up with a big save when the team needed it.

Last season his production dipped, understandable given how good he was in 2013-2014, and the team failed to make the playoffs. I can’t say there was a signature loss for Varlamov on the season because the team in front of him wasn’t good for long stretches during the year, but his failure to remain one of the best goalies in the league certainly hurt the team.

This year, in every single big game, Varlamov has come up short. It started on opening night. The Colorado Avalanche took a 4-1 lead into the third period against Minnesota and promptly blew it when Varly allowed four goals on 10 shots.

Varlamov gave the Blue Jackets their first win of the season with a poor performance, gave up six goals on 21 shots to the Maple Leafs, and posted back-to-back stinkers against last year’s Stanley Cup finalists. I’m willing to forgive all that because I understand that goalies have off night, but Varly’s current funk is what should really concern Colorado Avalanche fans.

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With the team clinging to the final Wild Card spot, Varlamov is in the midst of a horrid stretch. It started on Valentine’s Day when he gave up two goals on two shots, including a harmless looking shot from just inside the blueline by Evander Kane, and was promptly pulled. After a strong performance against Montreal, he gave up four goals on 28 shots to the Canucks and was thoroughly outplayed by Ryan Miller.

And then came Saturday night against Detroit. One day after Patrick Roy turned in the greatest goaltending performance by a 50-year-old in NHL history, Varlamov once again shrunk in the big moment. With the Colorado Avalanche leading 2-1 heading into the third, Varly gave up three goals on 13 shots, including the game winner with one-minute remaining in regulation.

The Stadium Series game against Detroit was quite possibly the biggest Colorado Avalanche regular season game in history with the exception of their inaugural game. And when it came down to it, Varlamov sucked.

Believe it or not, the Avs have been playing really good hockey these past couple weeks. Power play issues aside, they’ve actually controlled the play 5-on-5 and have outshot teams. They just picked up what I believe was their biggest win of the season against a very good San Jose team after falling behind early. Calvin Pickard was in net for that game.

Roy is committed to Varlamov. I think he sees a lot of himself in the 27-year old Russian. A goalie pushed out by his former team who has battled on and off ice issues. Roy understands the goalie mindset better than any coach in the league, and he’ll stand by his netminder even if everyone else leaves his side. It’s an admirable quality by the Avs head coach, but it’s also one that could lead to trouble for team.

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Varlamov has a chance to redeem himself on Tuesday. The Colorado Avalanche travel to Minnesota to play a Wild team that is two points behind the Avs with a game in hand. A loss knocks the Avs out of the playoffs while a win gives them just a little breathing room. It’ll be the biggest game of the season, a must-win thanks to the Avs failure to string together a decent run since the All-Star break.

Will Varlamov be up to the task? I wouldn’t bet on it.

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