Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonathan Bernier sat at his locker Saturday morning after practice while a group of reporters waited anxiously as he removed his skates and pads.
Coach Jared Bednar had already confirmed that goalie Semyon Varlamov will miss at least the rest of the regular season with a lower-body injury and that defenseman Erik Johnson is out six weeks with a fractured patella.
But with the cameras rolling, Bernier did not respond to a single question. And then a voice from across the room shouted out: “Atta-boy John.”
It was left-winger Matt Nieto.
Bernier grinned.