NHL scores 2016: Semyon Varlamov brings Avalanche back to the win column

The Colorado Avalanche hit absolute rock bottom on Saturday. After ending a six-game losing streak in Boston, the Avs got dunked on in a 10-1 loss in Montreal. Ten goals! How do you bounce back from that?

As it turns out, you bounce back with a ridiculous goaltending performance. With the team in front of him still licking its wounds from utter annihilation the night before, Semyon Varlamov stood in front of the tidal wave and took one for the team.

The Avalanche ended the night with a 3-1 win, and Varlamov ended the evening with 51 saves. A little less impressive considering Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith did something similar within the last two weeks, but impressive nonetheless. Especially since it saved the Avalanche from utter despair after one of the worst losses in franchise history.

It was the kind of performance teams dream of when they go out and acquire a franchise goalie.

It’s a shame the Avalanche will go on to waste this. And they will, because they are quite un-good.

Ducks 5, Senators 1

Flyers 1, Red Wings 0 (OT)

Capitals 3, Canucks 0

Wild 3, Blues 1

Rangers 5, Devils 0

Blackhawks 3, Stars 1

Oilers 3, Jets 2

Avalanche 3, Maple Leafs 1

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1. Anthony Stolarz is alive and well

Ever since Michal Neuvirth got injured, the Philadelphia Flyers have carried around rookie goalie Anthony Stolarz as Steve Mason’s backup. And yet, he’s only made one start this year.

And yet, Mason had started 13 of 14 games since Neuvirth was injured. Stolarz won his only start on Nov. 27, but never resurfaced. On one hand, you could see why the Flyers stuck with Mason. They’ve won nearly every one of those games, after all. But where was Stolarz? Was he hurt? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HIM, DAVE HAKSTOL?

I guess he was waiting for the right moment. Stolarz got the start on the road against the Red Wings on Sunday and turned in a special performance: a 28-save overtime shutout win and the Flyers’ ninth straight victory. Everything is going right in Flyers land right now. We are sorry we questioned you, Dave Hakstol.

2. Every other Metro team is streaking

It’s not like Philadelphia is pulling away from anyone, though. The Rangers and Capitals both won on Sunday, meaning the top five teams in the Metropolitan Division (Pittsburgh, the Rangers, Philly, Columbus, and Washington) went 17-1-0 last week.

So no matter how impressive nine straight wins is, the Flyers are still within two points of either leading the division or trailing in fifth place. They still have work to do.

3. The Stars keep sinking in a sea of inconsistency

Fighting to make the playoffs suddenly isn’t as important for Dallas as just trying to string two wins together. They failed to do that in a tough loss in Philadelphia on Saturday, but then followed up that decent game with a bad one in Chicago on Sunday. For a team with such a big hole to dig itself out of, inconsistency is death.

Maybe Patrik Laine is too good at scoring goals.

Henrik Lundqvist might not get his job back anytime soon.