ENGLEWOOD, Colo. [url=https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/545h-austin-barnes-jersey-dodger s.html]Austin Barnes Dodgers Jersey[/url] . - Sometimes, the shadow of Patrick Roy follows Semyon Varlamov around the ice. Breathing hard to catch up, too. At the conclusion of practice on Wednesday, the Colorad

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Austin Barnes Dodgers Jersey . - Sometimes, the shadow of Patrick Roy follows Semyon Varlamov around the ice. Breathing hard to catch up, too. At the conclusion of practice on Wednesday, the Colorado Avalanche coach tried to pull alongside his goaltender as he went through a cool-down session. Roy just wanted to track him down to tell Varlamov how pleased he was with the way hes been performing. After all, Varlamovs play in net has looked as efficient and effortless as, well, the Hall of Famer whos now coaching him. Off to a 7-1 start and among the league leaders in goals-against (1.76), Varlamov is thriving in the presence of Roy. "I think Varly, today, when I said how proud I was the way hes bounced back, he had a big smile," Roy said. "He was happy. I think as a player thats what you want to hear from your coach." Not just any coach, but Roy — one of the best to ever play the position. No pressure living up to his expectations. Thats the thing: Roy has been as much of a confidant as coach, which Varlamov appreciates. "This has been awesome," said the 25-year-old Varlamov after Wednesdays practice. "He can see something in a game, during a game, just some things I have to do better, what I did wrong, or something like that. Thats helped me a lot. I just have a lot of confidence." A year ago, Varlamov couldnt say that. He was struggling in goal - allowing three goals a game - and hardly looking anything like the type of franchise goalie the Avalanche thought they were acquiring when they sent a first-round pick to Washington in 2011. This season has been a big turnaround. That has to do with the arrival of Roy and a staff that included goalie coach Francois Allaire, who once mentored Roy. This summer, Allaire, Varlamov and backup Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has two shutouts this season, spent a few weeks in Montreal honing their technique. More specifically, Allaire tweaked some minute things with Varlamovs form. Asked what precisely they worked on, Varlamov smiled and said, "I dont want to talk about that." Top secret? "Yep," he said. "But were still working on this different style a lot. Im still learning how to play that way, how coach wants me to play." Unlike past years, Varlamov isnt being asked to come up with the big save time after time, or to be the backbone of the defence. In Roys system, the defencemen are more aggressive on the offensive end and way more accountable for helping out Varlamov. "Hes not hanging out to dry like in the past with some of our old systems," defenceman Erik Johnson explained. "Its pretty cool to see Varly transition into an elite NHL goalie." Then again, forward Matt Duchene knew this day would arrive. Hes been touting the talent of Varlamov for years, but no one would listen because Colorado was so buried in the standings. "Ive been a huge fan of him since he came here," said Duchene, whos among the NHL leaders in goals with nine. "I love shooting on him at practice, because its always a challenge. "I think Varly feels more comfortable than ever right now. He knows hes not alone in this and that people are backing him up every night." This helps with Varlamovs confidence as well: He no longer feels so isolated. When he first arrived in the U.S., the Russian star spoke only broken English. By hanging out with the players in the locker room, hes steadily picked up the language to the point where he can hold a casual conversation with anyone. "Life is so much easier when you can speak with people," Varlamov said. "The boys did a good job of teaching me." Another challenge soon awaits Varlamov, one that hes trying not to think about but its getting more and more difficult: The 2014 Sochi Games in his home country. Hes hoping to be in goal for the Olympics. "Of course, thats a dream for every player growing up, to play for our national team," he said. "Its always so much fun to play for a national team. Its always something special, especially for me because Russian fans, Russian people, they pull for us. Its going to be very cool if I go and play there. "But I dont think right now about Sochi. I think only about how were playing here, with Colorado." Los Angeles Dodgers Pro Shop . The Canadian Luge Association officially named seven athletes to the 2014 Olympic team Tuesday. Edney, will lead teenagers John Fennell and Mitchel Malyk into their first Games in mens singles. Tristan Walker and Justin Snith will represent Canada in doubles, while Gough, will be joined by Kimberley McRae in womens singles. Austin Barnes Jersey . Funny, they looked like longtime friends during Pittsburghs 5-1 demolition of Dallas on Tuesday night. Quick to the puck and even quicker to the net, the Penguins top line overwhelmed the suddenly struggling Stars as Pittsburgh bounced back from a dismal weekend sweep at the hands of Philadelphia by jumping on Dallas early. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/275h-keibert-ruiz-jersey-dodgers.html . 1. AMIR JOHNSON: Nice to see him back in the lineup Tuesday night in Washington DC. Played with great energy and purpose. Its amazing when a guy gets those few precious days to recover what it does to the bounce in their step and overall game/confidence.KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Its crunch time on Thursday for two of the top teams at the Canadian mens curling championships as they fight for the right to play in the one vs. two game on Friday. Should B.C.s John Morris win, he would be guaranteed a top-two finish, most likely No. 1 since he handed Alberta their only loss. That victory gave both teams 8-1 records, with Morris getting an edge because his rink won the head-to-head matchup. "We want that one-two game," he said. "If we win tomorrow morning were in the one-two game." Should Manitobas Jeff Stoughton win, he would be in control and need only beat Ontario in the evening draw to ensure a top-two finish. He was just as anxious Wednesday after a win left Manitoba at 7-2. "We play B.C. which is a huge game for us," he said. "We play them in the morning and that could mean getting into the one-two game which is very important." Stoughton looked more in control and said he felt that way as well. Manitoba started with four wins then lost games to Alberta and Quebec but has bounced back. Alberta continued its roll with a 10-5 win over Ontarios Greg Balsdon in Wednesdays evening draw. Kevin Koe and Alberta have only Prince Edward island (3-6) and Quebec (4-4) standing in their way of a guaranteed top-two finish. The late draw had meaning for the teams jockeying for fourth place and a shot at making the final through the 3-4 game. "This was a big bounce-back game," said Saskatchewans Steve Laycock, after beating Prince Edward Island 8-5 to improve to 5-3, good enough for fourth spot. "We had a couple of tough ones in a row against Alberta and Manitoba, which we knew they would be . . . Heading into the final couple of days we know we control our own destiny now." They play Ontario aand B. Gary Sheffield Dodgers Jersey. C. on Thursday. Ontario fell to 4-4 with the loss to Alberta. "Tomorrows a big one," said Laycock. Earlier, Morris and B.C. scored a big five in the third end and coasted to an 8-3 win in eight over Ontario. Manitobas Stoughton continued to keep the leaders in sight with a 7-4 win over Laycock. Stoughton and third John Mead looked a lot more in control, although they also benefited from Laycocks mistakes. "We got a great deuce in the first end and then it was pretty mistake free," he said. "A lot of great shots made, you have to do that, and it felt pretty good all around for all of our guys." Stoughton also faces Balsdon Thursday and the Brier rookie from Toronto wasnt giving up hope. "Weve got a tough day tomorrow with Saskatchewan and Manitoba but if we can win our last three games, 7-4 . . . should be okay for a tiebreaker anyway." Morris and B.C. are clicking even more than they did at the Olympic trials, where they lost the final to Brad Jacobs. Jim Cotter, who throws fourth stones for B.C., has gained a lot of confidence and it shows, agrees Stoughton. "I think Johns just brought so much confidence to that team. Hes made them believe that theyre a great team, which they obviously are." Morris was ranked as the top third (based on the stones he throws), Cotter the top skip and Rick Sawatsky the top lead in cumulative percentages after the first two draws on Wednesday. Only Manitoba second Mark Nichols stopped it from being a B.C. sweep. Also, Quebecs Jean-Michel Menard still has hope after improving to 4-4 with an 8-3 win over winless Nova Scotias Jamie Murphy. On the outside looking in, New Brunswicks James Grattan sits at 4-5 after beating the Territories Jamie Koe 8-3, leaving Koe at 3-6. ' ' '