as his team bid to hit the Super League summit for the first tim

DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche are off to a soaring start, even if they pretend theyre nothing more than an average team. Little mind games in order to keep winning them. "Were playing like were a .500 hockey team and not a 14-2 team. Thats the key," Matt Duchene said. "You stay grounded and you stay humble and hungry." Semyon Varlamov stopped 33 shots and Nick Holden scored his first NHL goal to break a second-period tie, lifting the Avalanche to a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday night. Patrick Bordeleau, P.A. Parenteau and Gabriel Landeskog also added goals for the Avalanche, who are off to a franchise-best 14-2 start under new coach Patrick Roy. Before this season, the best mark through 16 games was 13-3 by the 1994-95 Quebec Nordiques, a season before the organization relocated to Denver. "Theyre one of the upper echelon teams, in regard to skating," Capitals forward Brooks Laich said. "They have a quick group." Not too bad in goaltending, either. Varlamov once again came up big against his former team, especially on a 5-on-3 early in the final period to preserve the lead. Varlamov also made 40 saves in a 5-1 win at Washington on Oct. 12. Asked why Varlamov seemed to play so well against Washington, coach Adam Oates said: "Hes been in a zone against everybody so far." The turning point of the game was early in the third period when Cory Sarich was called for hooking to give Washington, the top power play team in the league, a man advantage. And then the Avalanche were whistled for too many men on the ice, setting up a 5-on-3 situation for 56 seconds. But Varlamov turned back shot after shot, the crowd serenading him with "Varly, Varly" over and over. "The guys did an unbelievable job for me," Varlamov said. "This team, theyre unbelievable right now, on the (penalty kill) especially. I appreciate what theyre doing for me. We start this game very well, the guys give me confidence and scored a couple of good goals." Joel Ward had the lone goal for the Capitals as they lost for a second straight night. Alex Ovechkin thought he had a goal late in the third, but it was disallowed when replay showed he kicked it in with his left skate. "We played a decent hockey game," Oates said. "We let it get away at the end, but it was a decent game." Ward tied the game at 1 in the second period when a puck caromed off the boards on a faceoff and right to his stick. With no defenders near him, Ward faked Varlamov one way and then shot it in for his eighth goal of the season. Just 28 seconds later, Holden gave the Avalanche back the lead when the defenceman took a pass from Landeskog and lined a shot past a screened Braden Holtby. The Capitals received a scare late in the second when Ovechkin slipped while chasing a puck and crashed into the boards, with Jan Hejda falling on top of him. Ovechkin stayed down on the ice for several minutes, before skating to the bench and dabbing at his head with a towel. He also began yelling at the officials. "It was a trip. Hit my head in the board," Ovechkin said. "It was a clear two minutes (penalty) and a dangerous play." Hejda didnt quite see it that way. "He fell and then I fell over him," Hejda said. "This is an elite (player). I was going to step (on) the brakes." Colorado got on the board early in the opening period when Cody McLeod lined a backhand shot toward the goal that Bordeleau redirected past Holtby. The officials reviewed the play to see if Bordeleaus stick was below the level of the crossbar and then announced to the crowd the call on the ice stood. The Capitals struggled to generate much offence in the first period and didnt take their first shot until halfway through, when Ovechkin laced a slap shot that Varlamov turned aside. Roy has a good thing going in goal these days, with Varlamov and backup Jean-Sebastien Giguere both playing well. The duo entered the game with a league-best 1.79 goals-against average. "We trust our two goalies," Roy said. "We have a lot of confidence." NOTES: Unhappy with an offside call, the Capitals argued with officials and were assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which was served by F Jason Chimera. ... The Avalanche were without F Alex Tanguay (knee) and D Ryan Wilson (back). ... Colorado is 8-1 against the Eastern Conference this season. Cheap San Francisco 49ers Gear . The traditional pre-Masters event was halted early due to inclement weather. Harrington, who tied for first in 2003 and won in 2004, became the first three-time champion of the event. Custom 49ers Jerseys . -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. http://www.cheap49ers.com/ . -- The top-seeded Alberta Pandas set up of an all-Canada West final against arch rival UBC at the CIS womens volleyball championship after a 3-0 win over the No. San Francisco 49ers Mitch Wishnowsky Jersey . Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Bass added 15 points and had a game-saving block in the closing seconds Saturday, and the Celtics held on for a 103-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cheap San Francisco 49ers Jerseys Online .com) - Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard notched a win, while second-seeded two-time champion Ana Ivanovic, third- seeded Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova and fifth seed Sabine Lisicki all exited the draw at the Generali Ladies Linz tennis event.Catalans Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous is staying grounded as his team bid to hit the Super League summit for the first time when they face St Helens at Langtree Park on Thursday night Barrie v Terry Podcast The pundits discuss Blake Sollys departure and preview this weekends fixtures The buoyant French outfit were outside the top eight last April but they will draw level with First Utility Super League leaders Warrington if they can complete a sixth straight win in the competition.We dont look at where we are in the table. We want to perform every week and thats our goal, to be a better team week in, week out, said Frayssinous. Obviously we are in a good place but it will be a very tough challenge to play against Saints, especially in the UK.Frayssinous believes the Dragons have discovered the formula that has enabled them to shed their notoriously shaky away form.Weve spent a lot of time with the boys, especially in pre-season, talking about what we need to do to improve away and at the moment its working well for us, he said.The club invested a lot in a private jet and the preparation during the week has been changed, so theres plenty of small details but all the players have worked hard on it.The loss of Eloi Pelissier to a two-match ban, allied to an injury to Paul Aiton, has left the Dragons without a specialist hooker but the return from injury of Todd Carney, captain Rémi Casty and Justin Horo means he is otherwise able to select from full strength squad. Rémi Casty will return from injury for Thursdays match St Helens arre currently mid-table in sixth, but head into Thursdays game off the back of a 25-22 victory over Super League leaders Warrington.dddddddddddd Head Coach Keiron Cunningham is well aware of the Dragons form and threats.Theyre going really good, Cunningham said. I thought they would have done that from the start with the way they signed.Theyve spent a lot of money this year on some real good quality players. Theyre on the crest of a wave at the minute. Its going to be a tough game but were very confident.Cunningham welcomes back experienced prop Lama Tasi but with multiple injuries will still be relying on the clubs promising youngsters to deliver in Round 11. Matty Dawson scoring for St Helens against Warrington Wolves in Round 10 Weve still seven or eight on the sidelines so its still not a great situation to be in but the kids did us proud, said Cunningham.Anybody that strings a few games together at the minute are shooting up the table. As you saw at the weekend, it seems like everybody is beating everybody. Your so-called top four are non-existent any more. Its the top 12.St Helens: Kyle Amor, Jack Ashworth, Ricky Bailey, Matty Dawson, Theo Fages, Joe Greenwood, Morgan Knowles, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Shannon McDonnell, Jack Owens, Greg Richards, James Roby, Andre Savelio, Jake Spedding, Lama Tasi, Jordan Turner, Alex Walmsley, Luke Walsh, Jon WilkinCatalan Dragons: Louis Anderson, Jason Baitieri, Thomas Bosc, Julian Bousquet, Jodie Broughton, Todd Carney, Rémi Casty, Alrix Da Costa, Vincent Duport, Olivier Elima, Tony Gigot, Justin Horo, Krisnan Inu, Willie Mason, Gregory Mounis, Richie Myler, Pat Richards, Glenn Stewart, Dave TaylorWatch Saints take on the Dragons from 7.30pm on Thursday on Sky Sports 2. Watch the action for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass. 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