Eurolanche

Avalanche aim for perfect trip at Sabres

Season series: Colorado Avalanche forward Alex Tanguay scored the tying goal in the third period and set up defenseman Francois Beauchemin for the game-winner with 31.7 seconds remaining in a 2-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 20 at Pepsi Center. Goalie Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves. Forward Evander Kane scored a power-play goal for the Sabres.

Avalanche team scope: Colorado is looking to sweep its three-game road trip after a 3-2 shootout win Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. The Avalanche had gone 0-3-1 on a preceding homestand. Forward Blake Comeau, who had a goal in regulation and the decisive shootout goal against the Red Wings, has three goals and four assists in his past seven games. Varlamov could be in line for another start after making 43 saves against Detroit in a game he originally wasn't scheduled to start. Coach Patrick Roy changed his mind about using Calvin Pickard in the second half of a back-to-back and was rewarded with a signature Varlamov effort. "I had lots of energy," Varlamov told the Denver Post after the game. "I feel good."

Sabres team scope: Goalie Robin Lehner will get the start Sunday. Lehner has struggled in his past two starts, giving up nine goals on 40 shots and being pulled early in the second period of a Feb. 9 loss to the Florida Panthers, but he was 2-0-1 in his previous three starts, allowing two goals in each and posting a .945 save percentage. Forward Zemgus Girgensons, who sustained an upper-body injury Feb. 6 against the Boston Bruins, practiced Saturday and proclaimed himself ready to go. Girgensons has to be activated off injured reserve. Kane and forward Marcus Foligno each scored twice Friday in a 6-4 win against the Montreal Canadiens. Kane has five goals in his past seven games.

-- by Brian Hunter for NHL.com --