Bernier Bounces Back Against Penguins

PITTSBURGH--Just 12 more seconds. That was how close Jonathan Bernier was to his second shutout of the season.
However, the Colorado Avalanche goaltender didn't seem to mind not picking up the clean slate as his team still collected its second straight win with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday at PPG Paints Arena.

"I thought that was a great team effort," Bernier said. "Everybody battled in the same direction."
Bernier finished with 39 saves--tying his season high that he set Oct. 28 against the Chicago Blackhawks--with only Phil Kessel's marker getting past him.
"It's hard enough to get one, and when you're so close obviously it's tough," Bernier said of just missing the 16th shutout of his career. "At the same time, we got the big two points for us. That's what matters."

The Laval, Quebec, netminder made 24 saves through the first two periods, but he was on top of his game when he needed to be in the final frame.
"I thought it was pretty tight checking the first two periods," head coach Jared Bednar said. "There weren't many scoring chances by my count either way. When there were chances, guys got sticks on pucks and blocked some shots. But there were certainly chances in the third, early in the third for Pit. They made a push there."
Bernier made 15 saves in the last 20 minutes, and his best might have come from a hard shot by Sidney Crosby at the right side 3:20 into the period.
Crosby's shot was part of a barrage by the Penguins to begin the last stanza, but the Avalanche did a good job of keeping them to the outside and quickly clearing out rebounds.
"We blocked some shots. We were smart to not give up that middle. Most of their shots were from the outside," Bernier said. "Sid had a one-timer there in the third. That was probably my only big save of the game."
Bernier was playing in his first outing in just over a week, as he last took the crease on Dec. 3 against the Dallas Stars. He wasn't able to finish that contest, as he made five saves on nine shots before being replaced midway through the second period by Semyon Varlamov.
"I thought Berns was really good. Really good bounce-back game for him after his last outing," Bednar said.

Varlamov started the last three games and has appeared in the team's last six, but Bernier stayed sharp with good practices in between his contests.
"I felt pretty good," Bernier said. "Got some really good practices as of late. I think when you do that, it allows you to just go into the game and not really think and just play."
Colorado's win continues its positive trend on this four-game road trip. After decent play in Thursday's loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Avalanche has now picked up two solid wins over the Florida Panthers and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Penguins.
The road trip concludes Tuesday at the Washington Capitals, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners.

KERFOOT INJURED

Rookie forward Alex Kerfoot suffered a lower-body injury and didn't finish the game after accidently blocking teammate Erik Johnson's slap shot midway through the second period.
Head coach Jared Bednar didn't have an update on the center following the contest.
With the Vancouver, British Columbia, native out, the Avs were forced to play with 10 forwards for the remainder of the game since the team iced a non-traditional lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
"We lost Kerfoot there midway through the game. We basically played three lines and mixed and matched," Bednar said. "They had good energy for 10 guys and little rest. I think it helped those guys out a little bit. They had a little bit jump and were in the game a little more."
Kerfoot entered the contest tied for fourth among league rookies in scoring with 21 points (nine goals and 12 assists).

TRIP CONCLUDES IN D.C.

Colorado finishes its road trip and seventh back-to-back set of the season on Tuesday night at the Washington Capitals.
The Capitals will also be playing their second contest in as many nights, as they lost 3-1 in Brooklyn versus the New York Islanders on Monday.
Semyon Varlamov, who played his first three NHL seasons in Washington, will be the starting netminder for the Avs. He has a 3-3-0 record, 2.02 goals-against average and .948 save percentage in six career games against his former team.