Semyon Varlamov makes record-setting 54 saves to blank Blackhawks

Before the Chicago Blackhawks’ game against the Colorado Avalanche, Patrick Kane recalled the Semyon Varlamov they faced last season. 

“He seemed to steal some games we played against him,” said Kane.

He did it again on Tuesday night. He turned back 17 shots in the first period. He stopped 21 in the second. He made 16 more in the third. He faced 54 shots and stopped them all in a 2-0 win over the Blackhawks.

According to Sportsnet, Varlamov set an NHL record for most saves in a regular-season shutout on the road.

“Varly was the story of the game. He was outstanding out there,” said Coach Patrick Roy. “They put a lot of shots on net. They shoot from everywhere, drive the net.”

Thus continues Varlamov’s mastery of the Blackhawks from last season. He went 4-0-0 with a 1.59 GAA and a .960 save percentage, giving up seven goals on 175 shots.

Nathan MacKinnon and Max Tablot had the goals, both scored within the first 1:17 of the game, as the Blackhawks once again got off to a slow start.

After that, it was all Hawks, with a Corsi For of 69 (5v5) vs. the Avs (37). But as he did all last season, Varlamov overcame his team’s really-really-bend-but-don’t-break defense for a big win. 

It was the second time Varlamov faced over 50 shots in his career, making 50 saves on 55 shots in a loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Feb. 2013.