Blues-Avalanche Preview

Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy is excited that his No. 1 goalie appears set to return.

There's a chance Tuesday night's opponent could start the only goalie in NHL history with more wins than Roy.

Semyon Varlamov is likely to return from a six-game absence for the Avalanche when they host a St. Louis Blues team that has the option of giving Martin Brodeur the start.

Varlamov has not played since Dec. 5 due to a groin injury. Rookie Calvin Pickard has gone 3-1-2 with a 1.61 goals-against average in his absence, though Roy said about Varlamov that "if he is ready, he will play against the Blues."

"Let's not forget what Varly did for us last year," Roy said. "Varly played so well for us, he was the reason we had 112 points, he was the reason why we won our division, let's not forget what he did for us."

The coach said that Pickard won't be sent to the minors.

It would make for a special moment if St. Louis (21-9-3) turns to the legendary Brodeur - whose 690 wins are the most in league history with Roy second at 551.

Brodeur was signed Dec. 2 and has made four appearances - with three starts. His last one was a debacle as he failed to hold a three-goal lead Thursday in a 6-4 defeat at Los Angeles that ended the Blues' five-game win streak.

Jake Allen started the next game, as St. Louis allowed the tying goal with 21 seconds left in regulation Saturday in a 3-2 overtime loss at San Jose.

''The most disappointing part of it is team-wise we played extremely well and we didn't get the job done,'' center Steve Ott said. ''Collectively we made some mistakes and unfortunately those mistakes happened late in the game and in overtime.''

Coach Ken Hitchcock's club was outhit 34-24 by the Sharks one game after the Kings held a 46-31 edge in that department.

"The last two games have been disappointing from a checking standpoint," Hitchcock said. "We've had both teams on the ropes and our inability to check at the right time in body position and everything has hurt us."

The Blues can avoid their first three-game slide if they notch a fourth straight win in Denver, where they had gone 0-6-2 over their previous eight visits. St. Louis has captured both meetings with Colorado (12-13-8) this season by 3-2 scores, including a Dec. 13 road win.

Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, a former Avalanche first-round pick, came up empty Saturday after amassing six points in a four-game point streak.

Colorado seeks to score on the power play in three straight games for the second time. The unit is 2 for 5 in the last two games after going 2 for 20 in the previous seven.

"I think power play, we started simplifying things," Roy said. "We scored in the last two games. We started putting more pucks on net."

The Blues' penalty kill has allowed six goals in 21 chances in the last four games, with the Avs going 3 for 10 on the power play against it this season.