Eurolanche

Varlamov Named Second Star of the Week

The NHL announced Monday that Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov has been named the league's second star for the week ending March 8.

Varlamov went 3-0-0 in the last seven days, recording a 0.69 goals-against average and a .981 save percentage (87-of-89). He has allowed one or less goals in each of his previous three starts. The last time he managed such low totals was from Oct. 2-12, 2013, when he went a career-high four straight games—all wins—with one or fewer goals against.

Varlamov began the week by topping the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 at home. The win, coming against one the best clubs in the Eastern Conference, helped launch the Avalanche into an all-important three-game win streak. Colorado's goalkeeper stopped 26 shots in the effort, weathering a 13-shot third-period barrage to hold onto the victory.

Varlamov followed his stellar performance at Pepsi Center with two great outings on the road. He made 39 saves in the Avs' 4-0 shutout of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday before finishing out the weekend with a 22-save performance in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon.

The 26-year-old native of Samara, Russia has compiled a 22-17-7 record, a 2.56 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in 46 games this season, including 22 consecutive starts between the pipes. In blanking the Blue Jackets on Saturday, Varlamov now has a career-high five shutouts on the season. He has 18 total.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, he was just 5:04 shy of his career-high shutout streak (129:23)—set from March 1-6, 2012—when Chris Stewart scored a third-period goal in Minnesota on Sunday.

This is the Avalanche's second NHL weekly honor of the season. Varlamov was previously named the second star of the week on Jan. 12. He has now been named in the league's three stars of the week four times with the Avs, two of which occurred last season. He was named co-second star with fellow Colorado goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere for the week of Oct. 7-13, 2013 and was named the second star for the week of March 31-April 6, 2014.

Jiri Hudler of the Calgary Flames was the chosen as the league's first star this week while New York Rangers goaltender Cam Talbot was named the third star.

-- by Colorado Avalanche Press Release --