Varlamov was 24-16-6 with a 2.68 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and two shutouts this season.
"He's got a couple different things going on from that collision," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "He's going to get re-evalulated next week some time."
Bernier will be the starter with Andrew Hammond the backup. Bernier started 10 straight games when Varlamov was out with a lower-body injury from Jan. 4-30.
"Only one goalie can play," Bednar said. "We feel confident in both those guys. So [Bernier] is going to get the net. He stepped up and elevated his game and won us a bunch of hockey games when [Varlamov] was out before, and now we need him to do it again."
Defenseman Erik Johnson has a fractured patella and will be out at least six weeks, a timeline that means he likely would miss the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs should the Avalanche qualify. The 30-year-old was injured Wednesday in a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Colorado (42-28-8), which hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday (9 p.m. ET; SN, SN360, PRIME, ALT, NHL.TV), is tied trail the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference because they have played one fewer game.
"We lost [Erik] and that's just part of hockey," Bernier said. "... We've been through a lot of adversity. We know how to handle it. To be in the spot that we're in right now, we're the youngest group in the NHL, it's huge. It seems like we've been in a playoff push for the last two months and everyone has to step up their game. It's really good for the experience for everyone."
Johnson has 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 62 games this season.
"We're all confident in this room that we can pull this through," Bernier said. "If everyone brings their A game we should be able to get into the playoffs. ... It's a fun part of the year, and everyone would give everything to be in our shoes right now. A lot of teams are out of the playoffs, and I've been there. These are the most important games, but they're fun to play."
NHL.com correspondent Rick Sadowksi contributed to this report
