Avs place Varlamov on IR

Oct 16, 2014 - 10:24 PM Ottawa, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - The Colorado Avalanche placed goaltender Semyon Varlamov on injured reserve before Thursday's road game against the Ottawa Senators.

Varlamov is sidelined with a mild groin injury, according to the Denver Post.

Calvin Pickard was recalled from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League to back up Reto Berra, who will start in net.

Varlamov led the NHL last season with a franchise-record 41 wins and finished second in the voting for the Vezina Trophy. The 26-year-old Russian is winless through his first three games this season.

In other news involving the Avalanche, John Mitchell will make his season debut against the Senators. The versatile forward had been battling concussion-like symptoms since late in the 2013-14 campaign.