Varlamov, Giguere named second stars
Varlamov, Giguere named second stars of the week. The goaltending duo allowed only two goals while helping Colorado to a 3-0-0 week.The NHL announced Monday that Colorado Avalanche goaltenders Semyon Varlamov and Jean-Sebastien Giguere have been named second stars in the league's "Three Stars" for the week ending Oct. 13.
The duo of Varlamov and Giguere combined for three wins last week as the Avalanche improved to 5-0-0, matching the franchise’s best start to a season since 1994-95 when the Quebec Nordiques won their opening five games.
Colorado has allowed one goal or less in each of its first five games, becoming the first team in NHL history to begin a season with five straight wins while allowing no more than one goal in each contest.
Varlamov posted two victories, a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage in recording a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 8 (27 saves) and a 5-1 triumph over his former team, the Washington Capitals, on Oct. 12 (40 saves).
The 25-year-old native of Samara, Russia, has allowed only one goal in each of his first four starts this season, turning away 128-of-132 shots for a .970 save percentage. He is the first goaltender in franchise history to allow one goal or less in his first four starts of a season.
Giguere was perfect in his first start of 2013-14, recording 39 saves in a 2-0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Oct. 10. The shutout was the 37th of Giguere’s career, which ranks seventh among active goaltenders and tied for 39th all-time. The Montreal, Quebec native's 39 saves against Boston was his most ever in a regular-season shutout performance.
This is Giguere's second Three Stars of the Week honor as a member of the Avalanche and Varlamov's first in a Colorado uniform. Giguere was also the last Avs player to be named to the league's "Three Stars" as he was the third star during the week of Dec. 19-25, 2011.
Tomas Hertl of the San Jose Sharks was named the league's first star and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins was named the third star of the week.
-- Avalanche Press Release --
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14/10/2013 - 19:30
