Eurolanche

Berra to start in goal against Panthers

Season series: The Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers each won in the other's building last season. Goalie Roberto Luongo made 30 saves in the Panthers' 4-3 overtime win at Pepsi Center on Oct. 21, 2014. Goalie Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves and defenseman Nick Holden's power-play goal with 8:57 remaining proved decisive in the Avalanche's 4-2 victory at BB&T Center on Jan. 15.

Avalanche (2-4-1) team scope: Goalie Reto Berra will make his third start of the season and first since Oct. 18, coach Patrick Roy announced Monday. Berra has split his two starts, making 73 saves on 75 shots (.973 save percentage). Varlamov has lost his past three starts (0-2-1), including 4-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, a game Colorado led by a goal entering the third period. "If we can be a bit better in the decisions we make, these could be wins for us," Roy said in comments Monday tweeted by the Avalanche. "We need to win third periods … manage our games better." Forward Jack Skille was moved from the fourth line to the second line with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog at practice. Defenseman Tyson Barrie will return after serving a three-game suspension for a hit on Anaheim Ducks defenseman Simon Despres. "It's going to help the power play. Help us offensively," Roy said.

Panthers (4-3-1) team scope: Luongo is likely to get the start. Forward Aleksander Barkov won't need surgery on his broken hand, the Miami Herald reported Monday, and could return within 2-4 weeks. Nick Bjugstad centered the top line, with Jonathan Huberdeau and Jaromir Jagr, at practice. "It’s good to know I can play with Bjugstad," Jagr told the Herald after the Panthers defeated the Dallas Stars 6-2 on Saturday, their first game without Barkov. "It's not easy playing with me, trust me. He's a big guy who can skate and has a long reach. He makes a lot of plays." The remaining lines had Dave Bolland centering Reilly Smith and Jussi Jokinen, Brandon Pirri between Vincent Trocheck and Quinton Howden, and Derek MacKenzie in the middle of Connor Brickley and Shawn Thornton. Fourteen of the 18 skaters to dress for Florida on Saturday had at least one point.

-- by Brian Hunter for NHL.com --