Varlamov: There was no margin for error

October 16, 4:08 AMWashington Capitals ExaminerDmitry Chesnokov

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Semyon Varlamov - AP

It did take the Washington Capitals over 10 years, but the curse of not beating the San Jose Sharks is finally in the past.

The Sharks were a bogey team for the Capitals and their star Alex Ovechkin. But the spell was broken at the Verizon Center when Ovechkin netter a pair of goals within 28 seconds of each other to secure a 4:1 victory to snap a four-game losing streak.

The game was also memorable for Alexander Semin, who actually led the league in goals (sort of) for about 40 minutes. In the first period Semin had one goal, five shots and three penalties drawn. Another interesting stat mentioned by JP -- Semin had more shorthanded ice time on the night than David Steckel did. Semin was named the Third Star of the game.

The game was marred by an injury to Jose Theodore, who left the game after the first period and did not come back. He is listed day-to-day with back spasms. It was time for Semyon Varlamov to step in. Even if he did look a bit "rusty," Varlamov got the much needed win and a boost of confidence. Of course, his teammates helped a lot. After the game Alex Ovechkin told me: "We tried to help Varly. When Sema [Alexander Semin] and I found out Varly would be in net, we told each other ‘Let’s do our best to help him win.’"

Even fans quickly warmed up to Varlamov's return by chanting 'Varly! Varly!' towards the end of the game.

After the game was over, my Sovetsky Sport colleague Dmitry Shumin and I spoke with Semyon.

When did you realize that you would have to come out and play in goal tonight?

To be honest I was told in the middle of the first period. A team doctor came up to me and told me that Theo [Jose Theodore] was feeling some pain and told me to get ready. I don’t know exactly what happened to Theo, but I don’t think there is anything serious. Maybe he won’t practice for a day or two. But everything will be alright with him. But I am not at liberty to say what type of injury he has.

I was just told that it was possible Theo would probably want to change. I was told that I could go and warm up if I wanted to. But I just got back from the pre-game warm up and I was ready to go. After the period was over I came up to Theo and he told me that he wouldn’t be able to play. That’s when I started to get ready psychologically.

There was a lot of criticism of your play after the last couple of starts. How difficult was it for you to prepare mentally for the game that was even, when you only had very little time? Especially when you knew that there was no one to back you up in case you’d play poorly.

Of course I didn’t think about that. I just came out concentrating on the game in hand I wanted pretty badly for the team to win. We lost four games in a row and I came out at such an important moment, when the score was 1:1. I knew very well that there was absolutely no margin for error for me and it was out of the question that I could slip up. We needed only the win.

Evgeni Nabokov just told me that it’s tough not just for a young goalie, but for any goalie to enter a game from the bench.

Yes, I’d have to agree with Evgeni that it is tough. But I think it’s tougher to come out in the middle of the second period and not after the first period. This is because you’re still fresh after a pre-game warm up. It is easier to enter the game. But if it happens in the middle of the second period, when you have spent a half of the game on the bench, your concentration is off, you’re getting “cold.”

Right after the start of the second period the Sharks got a power play opportunity. How important was it for you to make that first save of the game?

It was extremely important for me. After I stopped a couple of shots and caught a couple of pucks, I became more confident. Of course it’s different when you let one in.

You said that Jose Theodore will be out for a day or two. Does that mean that you will start against the Nashville Predators on Saturday?

I am not sure. But I have been working very hard every practice. I would come in and work out before practices, then stay on and work some more after practices were over. Arturs [Irbe] and I went over a lot of the mistakes I made in previous games. The last couple of weeks were very productive. We’ll see what is going to happen against Nashville.

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