Red-hot goaltender Semyon Varlamov on Monday was named the NHL's first star of the week, after going 3-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average and .981 save percentage while helping the Avalanche extend its winning streak to five games.
Varlamov, who entered Monday night's home game against Toronto on a six-game winning streak, posted a 29-save shutout at Chicago last week before making 33 saves in a 2-1 win over the visiting New York Islanders. Saturday, he stopped 39 shots in a 5-1 victory over Edmonton.
His goaltending mastery began Dec. 5 at home against Minnesota with a 19-save, 2-1 victory.