Morning skate notebook: Varlamov returns

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Greetings from inside the MTS Centre, where tonight the Colorado Avalanche finish up a six-game road trip against the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets.

If you’re coming to the game, bundle up. It’s minus-22 Celsius outside, but the 19-kilometre wind makes it the equivalent of minus-35. That’s at noontime here. The city of Winnipeg is issuing a “cold warning” for tonight, so you know it’ll be damn cold.

Well, the news from the morning skate is that Semyon Varlamov will make his return to the lineup, getting the start in net. 

Varly has been cleared to play for a few days now, but with Jonathan Bernier playing so well, he served as the backup the other night in Edmonton. So, let the potential goalie controversy begin. Jared Bednar has said, basically, that whoever is the hotter goalie will play from here on out. If Varly shuts out the Jets tonight, I guess he’s the new No. 1. If not, he probably goes back to Bernier for the next game.

This will be a very tough first test for Varlamov. The Jets can really score, though they are missing a couple of top guys right now in Mark Scheifele and Jacob Trouba.

The Avs will otherwise have the same lineup as the other night in Edmonton. Alexander Kerfoot will again center the top line with Gabe Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen.

See you tonight…