Mile High Sticking
Fansided

Colorado Avalanche: 5 Amazing Saves from Semyon Varlamov

By Nadia Archuleta

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 26: Semyon Varlamov #1 of the Colorado Avalanche holds the puck in his glove after making a save against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on March 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 26: Semyon Varlamov #1 of the Colorado Avalanche holds the puck in his glove after making a save against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on March 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
colorado avalanche
ST. PAUL, MN – MARCH 13: Semyon Varlamov #1 of the Colorado Avalanche makes a save against Mikael Granlund #64 of the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on March 13, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Varlamov Beats the Wild

You know who I hate more than the Detroit Red Wings? Of course you do. My hate for the Minnesota Wild is near legendary — or infamous anyway. Indeed, victories over the Minnesota Wild feel even better than those over the Detroit Red Wings.

Well, the Colorado Avalanche faced the Wild for the last time of the season on March 13. The game was in Minnesota, and that’s been a tough place for Colorado to win in recent years. In fact, in their previous sojourn at Xcel Energy Center last season, the Avalanche lost 3-2 in the shootout.

Well, things were different in the final match-up of the season. After that tough loss in Minny, Colorado went on to beat the Wild 7-2 then 7-1. That was in Pepsi Center, though.

The Xcel game went well, too. Colorado ended up winning 5-1. This was a game that saw Varlamov make 33 saves — and win first star honors. In Minnesota. Yass.

One of the most hated Minnesota players will always be Nino Niederreider, he of the Ping Heard Round Avs Nation (Game 7 overtime winner.) Well, this game against the Wild wasn’t so important, but it was satisfying.

Midway through the third period, the Minnesota Wild are on the power play. The Avalanche are up 3-1, but a goal at this point, in Minnesota, can definitely turn the tide.

Hey, look who’s being ineffectual in front of the net again — it’s Tyson Barrie. Also Patrik Nemeth. Actually, come to think of it, what is Barrie even doing on the penalty kill?

Anyway, the Wild are passing around the puck. Ryan Suter passes to Mikael Granlund — who’s apparently too fragile to stand up to Cody McLeod. Granlund spins the puck back to Suter, who redirects it to Matt Dumba — who one-times it to Niederreiter.

Oh, that wily Swiss. He gets off a dangerous redirect. However, Varlamov kicks it aside with ease:

That’s right, Nino. No love for you today.

Home/Editorials