Morning skate notebook: Varlamov sick, Andrew Hammond may start in goal Wednesday

Bad news from the Pepsi Center: Semyon Varlamov was described by coach Jared Bednar as “sick”, and it sounds like there is more than a decent chance he will NOT start tonight’s crucial game against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

That news came about in “oh-by-the-way” fashion at the end of Bednar’s brief press conference just now.

So here’s the deal: Andrew Hammond has been recalled by the Avs from San Antonio of the AHL. He may start tonight. He may play his first NHL game of the season tonight, in Game 78 of the Avs’ regular season, with the Avs’ playoff hopes on the precipice.

No big deal.

Hammond has made one start in San Antonio and it was a good one. He stopped 31-0f-32 shots (.969 saves percentage).

Spencer Martin might get the start too. Or, it may be Varly. Bednar said he didn’t know who would be the starting goalie, upon departing the presser. (Update: Marc Moser, Avs play-by-play man on radio, tweeted that if Varlamov can’t play, it will be Hammond in net, not Martin).

No big deal.

In other news from the skate: Nail Yakupov will come out of mothballs to play a forward spot. Anton Lindholm comes out of the lineup. The Avs will go with 12 forwards and six D-men. Sven Andrighetto will not play, though he did skate this morning.

Jonathan Bernier practiced, but he can’t grip a stick in his left hand very well right now because he’s got a cut that got infected and isn’t healed up yet.

So, the Avs could well start a goalie that hasn’t started a league game all year.

No big deal.

See you tonight, and remember, it’s a late start: 8 p.m.