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Avs to give 20-year-old Finnish goalie NHL debut tonight vs. Kings

SamiAittokallio

The Colorado Avalanche aren’t handling Sami Aittokallio with kid gloves.

That’s the story out of Los Angeles on Thursday as the Avs announced they’ll start Aittokallio -- a 20-year-old goalie from AHL Lake Erie -- against the defending Stanley Cup champs tonight at Staples Center.

Colorado, the league’s last-place team, is without No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov (hip) and has started 35-year-old Jean-Sebastien Giguere in four of the last five games.

So, enter Aittokallio, Colorado’s fourth-round pick at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft that’s posted a 14-11-1 record with a 2.89 GAA and .903 save percentage with the Monsters this season.

While not exactly seasoned at the pro level, Aittokallio knows a thing or two about playing under difficult circumstances. Playing for Team Finland at the 2012 World Juniors, Aittokallio stopped 56 shots in a semifinal shootout loss to Sweden.

The Finns were out-shot 58-24 in the game.