Varlamov, Yakupov fuel Avalanche in rout of Bruins
BOSTON -- The Colorado Avalanche continued their TD Garden dominance of the Bruins on Monday.
Semyon Varlamov stopped all 29 shots in a 4-0 win for the Avalanche, who haven't lost in Boston since March 30, 1998.
Colorado, which is 2-1-0 on its season-opening three-game trek, has 11 wins and a tie since its last road loss to the Bruins.
Nail Yakupov scored his first two goals with his new team, and Sven Andrighetto and J.T. Compher each scored their first of the season. Varlamov notched his 22nd career shutout as the Avalanche won the opener of a home-and-home set that concludes in Denver on Wednesday night.
It was Varlamov's second straight TD Garden shutout and both have come on the Columbus Day holiday -- the other back in 2011.
Tuukka Rask gave up goals on two of the first three shots and made 19 saves as the Bruins fell to 1-1-0, both games at home.
Frustrated Bruins fans began a chant of "Let's Go Red Sox" late in the game -- and booed at the final horn.
The Avalanche opened the scoring on their first shot, 4:41 into the game, as Andrighetto wired a hard wrist shot that struck a standing Rask, popped up into the air and over the goaltender into the net.
Compher then made it 2-0, taking a pass from former Bruin Carl Soderberg and beating Rask up high just as a Boston power play was ending.
Moments after Tyson Barrie hit the post, Yakupov beat Rask to a loose puck well out of the net and slid the puck into the goal. He was credited with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
NOTES: The Avalanche have allowed six goals in three games, none at even strength (five power play, one short-handed). They killed all four penalties on Monday. ... D Torey Krug (jaw) and C Austin Czarnik (illness) were both activated from injured reserve but C Patrice Bergeron (lower body) was still out for Boston -- the Bruins placing David Backes (diverticulitis) and Noel Acciari (finger) on IR ... Boston sent D Matt Grzelyck to the minors. ... Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov surpassed the 20,000-minute NHL mark in the season-opening win over the New York Rangers. ... The Avalanche are in the midst of five of their first seven games on the road.