Posted: 11/01/2013 11:26:00 AM MDT
Updated: 11/01/2013 12:03:21 PM MDT
DALLAS - After talking things over the past 24 hours, the Avalanche decided not to wait any longer and will put Semyon Varlamov back in the net Friday night against the Dallas Stars.
'Why wait?' Avs coach Patrick Roy said after the team's morning skate, when it was announced Varlamov will start less than 48 hours after being arrested on charges of domestic violence and kidnapping against his girlfriend. 'We're all aware of what happened, but we just feel that he's our guy. We have confidence in him and feel that it's good for him to play tonight.'
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who originally was believed would play against Dallas, will start against Montreal on Saturday at the Pepsi Center.
Roy said he had a handful of conversations with Varlamov on Thursday, and said he and the team are in 'full support' of him. Varlamov's attorney and agent both have strongly denied the allegations against him. Varlamov, unavailable for comment Friday morning - which is standard procedure for a goalie playing that night - will address the media for the first time after the game.
'We just want Varly to go out there and play his game,' Roy said.
Asked if Varlamov was in good spirits, and whether he's confident Varlamov will be able to play effectively despite the distractions of his situation, Roy said: 'We'll see tonight. The players have to support him as well, hockey-wise. The players need to play a good game in front of him, just like we've done since the start of the season. None of us are making any judgment until this (legal) process is going to be over.'
Roy compared the decision to play Varlamov to when he first came to the Avalanche in 1995. Right after getting off the plane in Denver, Roy was informed he'd be starting the next night against the Edmonton Oilers.
'Again, why wait?' Roy said.
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