How frequently does the letter "v" appear in:
Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov.
PUBLISHED: December 28, 2014 at 1:58 p.m. | UPDATED: November 18, 2016 at 1:25 p.m.
Despite all its young firepower and speedy scoring prowess, the Avalanche last season stood as surprise winner of the Central Division due in large part to the play of its veteran goaltender.
Semyon Varlamov, seemingly, would not let them lose on some nights. He led Colorado in a remarkable turnaround from worst to first.
But the Avs are back to being the worst — last place in the Central Division. That’s due in part to ongoing defensive issues and Varlamov’s injury-hampered season. He has played in just 46 percent of the Avs’ games.
Varlamov’s ice time, though, will soon spike, providing he can stay healthy. The Avs will lean on their No. 1 goalie almost exclusively going forward.
The Avs (13-14-8) are one point behind the Dallas Stars in the Central basement. Next up is a game at St. Louis on Monday.
Colorado was on a mini-roll heading into its game Saturday against Chicago, on a three-game winning streak and a six-game points string. That was washed away in a 5-2 loss. Rookie goaltender Calvin Pickard, who had been on a remarkable run filling in for Varla- mov, allowed four goals. Sunday, the 22-year-old was sent back to the minor-league Lake Eric Monsters.
“He needs to see a lot of action,” Roy said.
But Saturday’s loss to Chicago was not why he got sent down a day later.
Varlamov, who last week returned from a groin injury, is just 5-6-5 with a 3.01 goals- against average and a .913 save percentage. Pickard, who is 6-6-2 with a team-leading 2.21 GAA and a .934 save percentage, started the season in the AHL and has been called up to the Avs three times.
Roy said he told Pickard to prepare for a possible call-up, when the Avs play on back-to-back nights at Washington and at Carolina on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13.
But until further notice, the Avs’ net belongs to Varlamov.
The Blues’ 42-year-old backup goalie just keeps going and going. He last appeared in relief of Jake Allen on Dec. 23 in Denver, posting a shutout third period in St. Louis’ 5-0 blowout loss. Brodeur, a future Hall of Famer with 690 career victories, will start in net Monday against Colorado, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said.
Avalanche: The Avs dropped first-year forward Dennis Everberg to the American Hockey League on Sunday. Defenseman Nick Holden will take Everberg’s place as a fourth-line forward Monday against the Blues. The Avs will field a roster with only 20 players, coach Patrick Roy said. … Second-year backup goalie Reto Berra remains with the Avs as Semyon Varla- mov’s emergency relief. … Defenseman Erik Johnson sat out practice Sunday as a rest day. He has six goals in his past six games and is second on the team with 10.
Blues: Like the Avs with Varlamov, the Blues have been without their presumed No. 1 goalie for large stretches this season. Brian Elliott, though, is nearing his full-time return. “(I feel) good,” Elliott told St. Louis reporters after practice Sunday. “I’m just trying to get up to game speed and following pucks.” Elliott (8-4-0) has been out since Nov. 25 with a lower body injury.

user
The text includes 49 "v"s in total.
assistant