Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr.

It’s been a few days since I’ve updated about our Avs in Europe.

First up, Semyon Varlamov. The goaltender is currently 5-1 and has won his last three games (two in a shoot out, one in overtime.) Apparently Varlamov had to face 12 shots in one of the shoot outs, but he did us all proud. (Obligatory Varls quote: “I do not like the shoot out. I know fans love it, but it’s tough for goalies.”) Interestingly, one of the games should not have gone into a shoot out at all-there was a very obvious extended too-many-men on the ice call that the referees missed, which allowed Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to tie things up in the last minute. All four officials have been suspended and are awaiting further review. (!?) Varlamov’s save percentage is an impressive .932%, and his goals against average is a respectable 2.25.

As for Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog, I believe they’ve played in two more games each (still having some trouble navigating the Swedish Elite League site…anyone want to split the cost of Rosetta Stone with me?) but neither have added to their point totals yet.

As many of you are, I’m sure, aware, the NHL made a proposal on Tuesday, and the NHLPA made three counter-proposals today. All three were shut down, so it appears that the hope we were beginning to let emerge earlier this week needs to be tamped down once more. I sort of want to shout at everyone involved now. (“IF WE ALL WANT HOCKEY BACK SO MUCH, MAYBE WE NEED TO STOP WRITING PROPOSALS, THROWING THEM DOWN LIKE GAUNTLETS, AND THEN MARCHING AWAY, AND INSTEAD, SPEND SOME HOURS CONSTRUCTIVELY BUILDING SOMETHING TOGETHER.”) Anyways, I’m hoping hockey comes back soon, but I’m not too hopeful. Which is a very contradicting statement, but what can I say? My hockey compass is a little screwy right now.