Varlamov plays well despite bad bounce

--Other than gaining a point against a very good Blues team while playing its second overtime game in as many nights, the play of goalie Seymon Varlamov was the most encouraging aspect of Saturday's game. Relegated to backup duty in eight of the previous nine games, Varlamov stopped all 18 shots he faced in the third period and was victimized by a double deflection on the winning goal. Patrik Berglund's shot hit Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson before glancing into the net off Carlo Colaiacovo's elbow. "It hit two guys, including me," Johnson said. "That's just how it bounces sometimes." The Blues outshot the weary Avalanche 44-19 for the game. Said Avalanche coach Joe Sacco: "I thought (Varlamov) was real good, real solid. He was battling."

--After failing to get a power play in two consecutive games, the Avalanche went 1 for 2 with the man advantage against the Blues. Johnson fired a shot from the left point that eluded goalie Brian Elliott with 50.2 seconds remaining in the first period to tie the game 2-2. Defenseman Shane O'Brien scored the other goal, also from the left point, off a faceoff at the 10-minute mark.

--The Avalanche killed 13 consecutive penalties over a four-game stretch before getting burned for two power-play goals in the first period. David Perron scored both, the second during a two-man advantage that gave the Blues a 2-1 lead.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's always disappointing when there is an extra point to be had and we didn't grab it." -- Avalanche coach Joe Sacco, after Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss in St. Louis.

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