The Colorado Avalanche lost to the Minnesota Wild, thus jeopardizing their playoff chances. The loss highlights a growing goalie problem.
The Colorado Avalanche are in a tough playoff push. Essentially right now they’re fighting it out with the (hated) Minnesota Wild.
Unfortunately the Colorado Avalanche gave up their recent meeting againstthe Wild 6-3. Two of those goals were empty netters. And three of those goals were let in by goalie Semyon Varlamov on 12 shots in the first period.
I’ve said it before — it must be a special kind of hell for Patrick Roy to be going through goalie problems with the team for which he’s the head coach and vice president of hockey operations. Patrick Roy is renowned for being one of the — if not the — best goalies of all time. He also proved in the Colorado Avalanche Alumni Game that he’s still got the moves if not the fitness to be a contending goalie.
So, let’s look at what’sgoing on with the Colorado Avalanche goalie drama.
Goalie Controversy
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Two years ago, goalie Semyon Varlamov was largely responsible for the success of the Colorado Avalanche’s Cinderella season. Indeed, head coach Patrick Roy has credited Varlamov with helping him earn the Jack Adams award for coaching that season.
That was then. Now, Varlamov is one of the most inconsistent players on an inconsistent team. He can make a 40-save shutout or allow those three goals in 12 shots.
Yes, Varlamov has had a lackadaisical defense in front of him. However, as coach Roy pointed out on 104.3 The Fan, a team needs key saves from the goalie.
Concerning the game in Minnesota, Roy admitted, “I was hoping he could make one or two more saves.” He added, though :
"“I can’t be unhappy — it’s not like he woke up that morning and said ‘I’m going to let three goals in during the first period.’ He’s working hard.”"
Working hard isn’t enough, and Roy well knows it. No matter how hard the saves are t o make, it’s up to the goalie to make them:
"“It’s part of the job, making those key saves to allow the team to regroup and keep the team in the game.”"
Coach Roy isn’t in the habit of throwing players under the bus, and he’s certainly not going to start with his pet goalie. He points out that there are highs and lows in a career, and this is a definite low in Varlamov’s career:
"“Varly had a so-so outdoor game. The [Minnesota] goals weren’t bad goals, but he isn’t playing well.”"
Patrick Roy well knows the peculiarity of being a goalie :
"“As a goalie, you’re exposed. The forwards have the defense, the defensemen have the goalie. There’s nothing behind you but the goal line. There’s no support.”"
On the flip side, he thinks Calvin Pickard is playing with confidence, and that’s key for a goalie. Indeed, Pickard’sperformance allowed the Colorado Avalanche to get back into the game. Roy said so himself.
Confidence is everything for goalies. Part of Patrick Roy’s brilliance as a goalie was his arrogance. He well knows how key that is for a goalie :
"“Confidence for goalies is hard to build. You’re on your own. It’s a learning process.”"
Be that as it may, coach Roy is an inveterate competitor. He and GM Joe Sakic intend to make the playoffs. That means there’s not going to be any hand holding for Semyon Varlamov. Roy said:
"“We want to support Varlamov, I want to be behind him. But we’re in a playoff race — it’s a tough decision. It’s my job to make the tough decisions.”"
The Colorado Avalanche play the Florida Panthers tomorrow. Coach Roy has already named Calvin Pickard as the starter. With the way he had played all along, I’m convinced he’s the future of Colorado Avalanche goal tending.
Semyon Varlamov could well find himself playing backup to the kid long-term. The job is there for Pickard’s taking — and that means the Colorado Avalanche should start getting some consistently good goal tending.