Eurolanche

Berra likely to start for Avs vs Devils

Season series: The Colorado Avalanche swept a two-game series against the New Jersey Devils in 2014-15. Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov allowed three goals on 49 shots in the two victories.

Avalanche team scope: Colorado will play its second game in as many nights after opening a four-game road trip with a 5-3 loss at the New York Islanders on Monday. Starting goalie Semyon Varlamov struggled, allowing four goals on 27 shots. In a back-to-back situation, it's likely coach Patrick Roy will turn to goalie Reto Berra on Tuesday. Berra has a 2.39 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage in 12 games this season; Varlamov's save percentage dropped to .887 following the loss Monday. "It's not easy for him," Roy said of Varlamov. "Obviously, we need that extra save and we didn't get it on the road. It's hard to win if you're giving four goals on the road. We just need more from him. He's our No. 1 guy, and we're behind him, but we expect more from him."

Devils team scope: New Jersey will begin a stretch of three games in four days and four in six. The Devils' next five games are against teams that missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. They are 2-3-1 in their past six games. "It's a busy month for us, but it's time to play," coach John Hynes told NorthJersey.com after practice Monday. "I think we've had a pretty good schedule here in October and November to be able to get some quality practice time and had some games to evaluate things we like and don't like, and now it's time to play a little bit more, we have some back-to-backs. So, it's a good thing. It doesn't matter who we play, we have to play a certain way and we have to have a certain mindset in the way we go about our business. Our focus is on us, not who we're playing." Goalie Cory Schneider will start Tuesday. Defenseman David Schlemko will be available but is unlikely to play after missing the past two games to be with his wife, who gave birth to their second child.

-- by NHL.com --