Goaltender Semyon Varlamov has an upper-body injury, so Calvin Pickard will start for the Colorado Avalanche. Pickard is 4-1-0 this season with a shutout, 2.07 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in six games. He previously played Nov. 19 and made 41 saves in a 3-2 win against the Minnesota Wild. "I'm definitely ready and prepared for Vancouver," Pickard said. "You're only as good as your last game, and I want to back it up and keep it going." Coach Jared Bednar said he doesn't expect Varlamov to be out long. "Hopefully we'll get him back to practice in the next couple days," he said. Colorado called up Spencer Martin from San Antonio of the American Hockey League to dress as the backup. Right wing Rene Bourque will play after missing practice Friday because of illness. He'll be on a line with left wing Mikko Rantanen and center Nathan MacKinnon. Bourque and Matt Duchene each have a team-leading seven goals. The Avalanche opened a five-game homestand Wednesday with a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, who scored four goals in the third period. Colorado is 4-5-0 at Pepsi Center this season.
