The Colorado Avalanche: News from around the NHL - October 22nd, 2013

Even some of the Avalanche players are a bit surprised at the start they are having.

"For us, every win is important," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said. "This one is very special for us. It's not very often we're going to win in Pittsburgh [when] they had seven power plays. They are probably one of the best in the League, and they were moving the puck really well.

"Your goalie needs to be your best player in every situation, and [Giguere] was our best player."

Giguere earned his second shutout in three starts for Colorado.

"[Semyon Varlamov] and I are working with a new goalie coach and Patrick, who is helping us, too," Giguere said. "Altogether, I think we feel pretty good. It's a new season, a new attitude all around. It's a lot more positive.

"I would've believed being over .500, but maybe not 8-1."

Another NHL'er has decided to retire.

Hamrlik was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He played 1,395 regular-season games and 113 post-season games with Tampa Bay, Edmonton, the New York Islanders, Calgary, Montreal, Washington and the New York Rangers over his career.

Hamrlik, from Zlin, Czech Republic, scored 155 goals and had 483 assists for 638 points while averaging over 23 minutes in ice time per game over the course of his NHL career.

“As a kid growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, I never imagined that I would one day have the opportunity to play in the National Hockey League,” Hamrlik said in an NHLPA statement. “It has been a great honour and a privilege to spend 20 seasons playing in the greatest hockey league in the world.

Cody McLeod isn't the only player that was suspended yesterday.

New York Islanders forward Michael Grabner was suspended for two games by the NHL for an illegal check to the head of Carolina Hurricanes forward Nathan Gerbe during Saturday's game, the league announced Monday.

No penalty was called on the play, which occurred in the first period.

Grabner will forfeit $30,769.24 as a result of the suspension.

He has two goals and six assists in eight games this season, and had 16 goals and five assists in 45 games last season.