The Colorado Avalanche – who are second in the NHL with 366 man games lost to injury – have been hit by the injury bug again. Head coach Patrick Roy announced Tuesday morning that Semyon Varlamov will be held out of Tuesday night’s matchup with the Los Angeles Kings and is day-to-day with a groin injury.
Calvin Pickard, who the Avs recalled from the Lake Erie Monsters on Monday, will get the nod in place of Varlamov on Tuesday night.
Varlamov’s troublesome groin flared up on him in Sunday’s victory over the Minnesota Wild – forcing him to leave the game late in the third period.
Coach Roy explained that the decision to hold his starting goalie out was precautionary in his pregame press conference.
“We don’t want to take any chances,” said coach Roy. “I’d rather see him missing tonight and be ready for [Thursday’s matchup with New] Jersey than having him play tonight and lose him for whatever.”
The 26-year-old has already missed 15 games this season due to the groin.
Varlamov would have tied Craig Anderson’s Avalanche record by making his 23rd consecutive start on Tuesday. The Russian netminder was been on fire during the Avs’ current three-game winning streak. He was named last week’s NHL second star of the week for stopping 101 of the 103 shots he faced and turning in one shutout with a 3-0-0 record.
Pickard has been spectacular in his own right in 12 starts for the Avalanche this season – registering a 2.18 goals-against average with a .936 save percentage that would be tied for first in the NHL if the 22-year-old had played enough minutes to qualify.
“[Pickard] is one of the reasons why were in the position today thinking about still having a chance to make the playoffs,” coach Roy said.
Pickard became Lake Erie’s all-time wins leader with his 52nd victory in his last outing on Sunday.
Forward Joey Hishon will also miss Tuesday’s game. Disappointing news for the injury-prone 23-year-old, who is battling neck and elbow problems. Coach Roy said Hishon’s absence should be short.
Nathan is a staff writer for Mile High Sports. He can be reached on Twitter at @TheRealNatron.
