There are always a few games like this on the schedule. A big win, an unexepected win, followed by a game the next night in another city. It’s natural for the pundits to say “OK, this game is just gravy, a win would be nice but you can’t expect too much.” And it’s up to guys like Semyon Varlamov, or any other No. 1 goalie who has had a few days of rest to shove it right back in the pundits’ mouths.
Unfortunately for the Colorado Avalanche, Semyon Varlamov was not up to the job Tuesday night. No, this loss wasn’t all on him. The team in front of him only had 10 forwards (11, if you want to count Gabriel Bourque). With Alexander Kerfoot out with a, ahem, sore foot, and with the Avs fresh off a “huge” win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, victory seemed like a luxury too much to ask for the team’s fans.
In the end, it was too much to ask, as Washington beat Colorado 5-2. A 1-1 game in the second period turned lopsided after Varlamov allowed a shot from former teammate John Carlson from near the point to beat him, with 2:18 left in the second period. Brett Connolly would add an insurance goal in the third to beat an Avs team that finished 2-2-0 on the four-game Eastern road trip.
All in all, 2-2 on this trip wasn’t bad. Especially, after an opening loss in Tampa Bay. Now, though, the Avs have to come home and do what they failed to do on the last homestand: Win.
Anything else, in a homestand that includes three of the four teams they just played, will continue to be further proof that, while this Avs team is definitely better than the last version, still isn’t ready for Prime Time.
Varlamov easily could have stolen this one. Washington didn’t play all that great, outshooting the Avs just 27-24. Or, at least, Varly could have stolen a point. But you had the sense early on that he just didn’t have his ‘A’ game, when Jakub Vrana beat him to the far post on a short-side slap shot early on. True, Erik Johnson drifted too far into the middle on the 3-on-2 sequence, but Varlamov was just plain beaten on the shot.
The Avs played better after Vrana’s goal, and were finally rewarded in the second period, when Colin Wilson converted Mikko Rantanen’s centering pass for his second goal in as many games.
But after that? The Avs seemed to get too satisfied again, sitting back a bit too much and failing to capitalize on the few prime chances they got. J.T. Compher, in particular, continues to be snakebit in close.
Carlson put the Caps ahead to stay with his big blast over Varlamov’s left shoulder.
Varlamov’s saves percentage dropped to .903 on the season, with a 3.19 goals-against average. If these numbers don’t improve, in a hurry, questions will start arising about his longer-term future in Denver. He has one season beyond this one on his contract, at a $5.9 million cap hit.
Stats like that won’t get him any new contract beyond the money he’s making now.
0 Comments (9 conversations)
Good analysis of Varlamov. He fought the puck all night and first 2 goal were weak, 3rd could have been stopped. He just looks like every save is tough for him right now.
Sunfunbun
No chance for Varly on the Niskanen and Connolly goals. Blundering Barrie giveaway on a rushing Carlsson, who had the entire middle and had a perfect shot on Varly. Are you seriously blaming Varly on that goal? Ridiculous. It was on Barrie, for sure.
The first goal was also a poor defensive play by EJ and the Avs, allowing Kuzy to make a nice pass to the open Vrana. it was a good shot by Vrana, as well, not much chance for Varly on that one, either.
Absolutely no chance on the fifth goal, it was an empty netter.
I don’t find your assessment of blaming Varly for this game right. There were major breakdowns all game, and the Caps had numerous odd man breaks. If anything, blame the Avs’ shooters, who had open shots on Holtby, and kept shooting right at him, or didn’t shoot at all.
Varly has had better days – seemed a bit unfocused; however, let’s not forget those pungent power plays. Their passing and puck handling skills (especially those blind passes to no one in particular) also contributed to their overall fuzzy play.
Mark T
Interesting choice to make Varly the focus of the loss. I think you probably could have singled out just about anybody besides Wilson in this game as a major factor in them losing. EJ made some defensive gaffes. Barrie continues to be an offensive-minded forward who somehow found himself playing defense, Landeskog seemed to lose the puck every time he had it, MacKinnon went back to trying to hard, and the whole team outside of Wilson & Jost wasn’t able to score.
So yeah. Varly was mediocre at best, but that’s what Varly is. He’s a 50% goalie basically, which means 50% of the time he plays like a below average goalie and the other 50% he plays above average. Which one you get on a given night is basically a coin flip. Holtby, meanwhile is a 60% goalie (in terms of how often he’s above average). I certainly hope they don’t intend to keep Varly past his current contract, but I have no clue who they could get who would be better.
Av-a-dabba-doo
Really didn’t like our play and effort in this game, in manifold ways. Abysmal power play, lackadaisical skating, scads of errant passes … I could go on. Didn’t deserve to win at all. Really disappointed with the hockey product I saw, straight up.
mladen
i agree. I thought the same.
nzamora86
I don’t really place blame on Varly for any of the goals except for maybe Carlson’s where he did everything right except get a piece of it (doesn’t even get a shot if not for that horrendous clearing attempt by Barrie). He made it over on Vrana’s goal but it was a well placed shot by a skilled player. Caps moved him side to side on Connelly’s goal. Niskanen’s goal was a 2 on 1 down low.
gtq
It seems to me like Varly is really struggling with his glove hand. He has had a lot of fumbles this year too where he has the puck in his glove hand and doesn’t hold it. He is also making late decisions on whether to cover up the puck or not. So I do put some of this loss on him. The other thing I noticed is in the third period everyone looked like they had legs of jello. That Pens game took something out of everyone. Using 11 forwards catches up with you on back to backs especially when one is Bourque and you hardly use him. I would like to see us get back to 12 and 6 in the lineup.
B
I’m more bothered by how this team doesn’t get their legs going until their down 4-1 with three minutes left in the third period. EJ and Rantanen looked the fastest they’d been all game.
Also, understanding that they have no fighter on their team, when they get blown out – now there are not any skirmishes or fights. Boring. Washington was still laying huge hits on them while they were up 4-1. No response from any Avs player.
Nels
Varly looked like he was scared of the puck. Landy looked like he forgot how to play hockey. They probably could have won if those guys showed up.