• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
New York Islanders’ 11-Game Snapshot: Where Would They Be Without Semyon Varlamov?

New York Islanders’ 11-Game Snapshot: Where Would They Be Without Semyon Varlamov?

February 9, 2021
The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

February 28, 2021
Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

February 28, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT
Trey Fix-Wolansky skates along the ice.

Short Bench is No Problem for Cleveland

February 28, 2021
The Ottawa Senators Are Winning “The Right Way”

The Ottawa Senators Are Winning “The Right Way”

February 27, 2021
Eichel, Ullmark Injured, Skinner’s Status Unclear With Slumping Sabres

Eichel, Ullmark Injured, Skinner’s Status Unclear With Slumping Sabres

February 26, 2021
Islanders Put Away Bruins 7-2 With Best Game Of Season

Islanders Put Away Bruins 7-2 With Best Game Of Season

February 26, 2021
NHL Up and Down the Boards: Boucher Tops Ducharme on Habs Coaching Odds

NHL Up and Down the Boards: Boucher Tops Ducharme on Habs Coaching Odds

February 26, 2021
As Flyers Get Healthier, Returning Claude Giroux Makes An Immediate Impact

As Flyers Get Healthier, Returning Claude Giroux Makes An Immediate Impact

February 25, 2021
Canadian AHL Clubs See Unprecedentedly Inconsisent Schedule

Canadian AHL Clubs See Unprecedentedly Inconsisent Schedule

February 25, 2021
Sabres Forward Jeff Skinner Is Struggling … Or Is He?

Sabres Forward Jeff Skinner Is Struggling … Or Is He?

February 25, 2021
NHL ProteauType: Despite Sunny Bumps, Lake Tahoe Outdoor Games Deserve Praise

NHL ProteauType: Despite Sunny Bumps, Lake Tahoe Outdoor Games Deserve Praise

February 25, 2021
The San Jose Sharks Facing Glum Future

The San Jose Sharks Facing Glum Future

February 25, 2021
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Full Press Wrestling
  • Full Press Radio Network
  • FullPressShop.com
  • Want to write for us?
  • Advertise With Us


Monday, March 1, 2021
Full Press Hockey
  • NHL
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • AHL
  • KHL
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • NHL Draft
  • Prospects
  • Podcasts
    • Big Bad Bruins Podcast
    • Off The Post Radio
    • C4 Canucks Podcast
    • High and Wide Radio
    • Fourth Line Hockey Pod
    • The Calder Farmstead
    • Front Range Podcast
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
  • NHL
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • AHL
  • KHL
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • NHL Draft
  • Prospects
  • Podcasts
    • Big Bad Bruins Podcast
    • Off The Post Radio
    • C4 Canucks Podcast
    • High and Wide Radio
    • Fourth Line Hockey Pod
    • The Calder Farmstead
    • Front Range Podcast
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
Full Press Hockey
No Result
View All Result
Home NHL Metropolitan Division New York Islanders

New York Islanders’ 11-Game Snapshot: Where Would They Be Without Semyon Varlamov?

Islanders' Record Stands at 5-4-2 With Three Shutout Victories

Curtis Rush by Curtis Rush
February 9, 2021
in New York Islanders, NHL
0
852
SHARES
2.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The New York Islanders’ record in the NHL’s East Division after 11 games stands at 5-4-2 following the club’s 2-0 shutout of the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

Not great. But not as bad as it looked in late January.

After starting the season impressively at 3-1, the Islanders suffered through a five-game winless streak before they regained their focus and increased their intensity. They have now chalked up two straight victories.

RelatedPosts

The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

The Ottawa Senators Are Winning “The Right Way”

Eichel, Ullmark Injured, Skinner’s Status Unclear With Slumping Sabres

The shutout over the Rangers restored some confidence in the team after it went into something of a death spiral. Semyon Varlamov made history too. He became the first Islanders goalie with two shutouts against the Rangers in the same season.

“Varly was huge for us tonight,” coach Barry Trotz said on Monday.

Varlamov has racked up 54 saves in the back-to-back shutouts against the Rangers after allowing 13 goals on 91 shots (.857 save percentage) against them last season.

Timely Saves

Varlamov had timely saves against the Rangers, and the Islanders’ patience was rewarded.

Varlamov first came up big against Rangers’ Artemi Panarin on a breakaway at 1:57 in the third period and then stopped Mika Zibanejad on a two-on-one with Chris Kreider.

“When you’re facing these shots against the biggest players in the league and you make the save, it gives you some boost,” Varlamov said. “We needed those saves.”

Said Trotz: “Our bench sort of perked up at that point.”

Varlamov stones Panarin on the breakaway pic.twitter.com/wF3rrW8fhu

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) February 9, 2021

It was on Saturday that the Islanders seemed to get back on track with a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, overcoming a 3-2 deficit in the third period. And, in both victories, it was the role players who took the pressure off the scoring stars.

Against Pittsburgh, Cal Clutterbuck scored the tying goal before Anders Lee potted the winner. And against the Rangers, it was Casey Cizikas who scored the winner.

The lack of secondary scoring and the marvelous play of Semyon Varlamov in the Islanders net have been the dominant themes so far this season.

Three Shutouts Lead League

Varlamov has three shutouts so far this season, including two against the Rangers, which accounts for three of the team’s five victories. The 6-foot-2 goaltender from Samara, Russia, is 5-2-1 and he’s the league leader in shutouts. No one else has more than two.

“Varlamov has been solid all year,” forward Jordan Eberle said after the Pittsburgh victory on Saturday. “Even going back to last year, he’s been really good. He’s stolen us a couple of games already this year.”

It’s hard to think where the Islanders would be without Varlamov. He is also among the league leaders in save percentage (.932) and goals-against average (1.88).

Varlamov’s statistics put him ahead of Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, who were the two last Vezina Trophy winners.

At 32, Varlamov is at his peak. Goalies mature later than everyday players, and this is turning out to be a special year for the former Washington Capitals draft pick.

Bailey giving Varlamov the game puck for winning his 500th NHL game is everything. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/sdegnCexUM

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 7, 2021

In the victory against Pittsburgh, Varlamov played in his 500th career game, becoming the third goalie to play his 500th game in an Islander uniform (Billy Smith and Dwayne Roloson).

Varlamov got off to a hot start this season. When he blanked Boston on Jan. 18, Varlamov became the first Islanders goalie to record a shutout in each of his first two appearances of a season and was just the 14th goaltender in history to do so.

And his shutout streak of 142:10 was the eighth longest scoreless streak to start a season in NHL history. He had previously broken Rick DiPietro’s club-record scoreless streak to start the season (115:35 achieved in 2003-04).

Varlamov works under ideal conditions. The defensive structure by the Islanders is based on limiting opponents’ scoring chances. But Varlamov has had his work cut out for him occasionally.

Against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 26, Varlamov faced a season-high 37 shots and made 34 saves in a 3-2 loss.

Varlamov was a key performer in helping the Islanders advance to the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 1993. He posted an 11-7 record, a 2.14 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 20 playoff appearances.

And along the way, Varlamov established a franchise postseason record shutout streak of 138:17, which was a mark previously established by Billy Smith during the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Varlamov’s Journey

Varlamov has taken years to develop and shake off injuries and personal trials.

After being drafted by the Capitals in the second round of 2006, Varlamov played mostly with the Capitals’ minor-league affiliate, the Hershey Bears of the AHL. He played his first NHL game on Dec. 13, 2008 against the Montreal Canadiens and made 32 saves to win his NHL debut. He was named first star of the game.

In his home debut five days later, Varlamov made 29 saves on 31 shots against the St. Louis Blues and was named second star of the game in a 4-2 Capitals win.

But Varlamov eventually lost out to Michal Neuvirth for the goalie-of-the-future tag with Washington, and Neuvirth is no longer in the NHL.

In 2011, Varlamov was traded to the Colorado Avalanche as a restricted free agent for two draft picks, but injuries and personal difficulties, including domestic violence charges, which were later dropped, resulted in Varlamov never reaching his potential in Colorado.

On July 1, 2019, Varlamov signed as a free agent with the Islanders. His four-year contract was worth $20 million.

The Islanders will ride Varlamov as long as they can. But in this compressed, 56-game season, the Islanders will have to depend on backup Ilya Sorokin at various times. So far, the Islanders have not supported Sorokin well, and Sorokin has been shaky in his first three outings.

Sorokin (0-2-1) is still waiting for his first win and needs to improve his save percentage (.871) and the Islanders have to help him improve his goals-against average (3.65).

But with Varlamov playing so well, the Islanders are hanging onto the fourth and final playoff position in a very tough East Division behind Boston, Philadelphia and Washington.

The Islanders will likely go back to Varlamov on Thursday at home against Pittsburgh and at home against Boston on Saturday. But next week, the Islanders are on the road for back-to-back games against the Buffalo Sabres, and Sorokin will no doubt get the start in one of those games.

The two-goalie system has never been so important in this pandemic-shortened season. The Islanders need not only Varlamov to be good, but Sorokin to be better, if they are to have any chance of team success.






Tags: Barry TrotzIlya SorokinSemyon Varlamov
Previous Post

AHL Canadian Division Announces February Schedule

Next Post

Sabres Hoping to Move Forward After COVID Outbreak

Curtis Rush

Curtis Rush

Next Post
Sabres Hoping to Move Forward After COVID Outbreak

Sabres Hoping to Move Forward After COVID Outbreak

Retirement, Death Shakes Eagles Organization

Retirement, Death Shakes Eagles Organization

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Trey Fix-Wolansky skates along the ice.

Short Bench is No Problem for Cleveland

February 28, 2021
KHL

KHL Releases List of Top Player Salaries

December 1, 2020
Manitoba Moose Showing Flashes of Future Brilliance

Manitoba Moose Showing Flashes of Future Brilliance

February 24, 2021
Cleveland Monsters netminder, Brad Thiessen, kneels in the crease while stopping pucks.

Offense, Goaltending Shine Bright in Rockford

1
The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

The Best NHL Teams To Bet … And Bet Against

February 28, 2021
Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy

February 28, 2021
Trey Fix-Wolansky skates along the ice.

Short Bench is No Problem for Cleveland

February 28, 2021


  • Full Circle #19
    by HW Radio on March 1, 2021 at 12:00 pm

    Jack and Steve return after a week off to catch you up on the Mass Mutual East division games and […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43685306/https_d3ctxlq1ktw2nl_cloudfront_net_staging_2021_2_1_861deef2_b36a_2285_3f83_21b5ca7441f7.mp3
  • Ep 55: Bruins Depth Issues; Time to Panic?
    by Full Press Coverage on February 27, 2021 at 11:28 pm

    Ian and Chris try to make sense of the Bruins losing 4 of the last 5 and the last two games by a […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV2230585722.mp3
  • Off The Post Talks Bruins Hockey and More with Matt Kalman
    by Off The Post on February 27, 2021 at 9:34 pm

    Off The Post talks to Matt Kalman from Full Press Hockey.

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/994599598-russ-cohen-off-the-post-talks-bruins-hockey-and-more-with-matt-kalman.mp3
  • The Sheriff with Sean McMorrow ft Ken Reid
    by HW Radio on February 26, 2021 at 3:30 pm

    Sean and Kyle are back to discuss Austin Matthews recent hot streak, Sidney Crosby's 1000th game, […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43651643/https_d3ctxlq1ktw2nl_cloudfront_net_staging_2021_1_26_beb4816d_0c82_8958_7f08_4827c18d93d5.mp3
  • Episode #15: Bears, Bunting, Battlestar Graovac-tica
    by Full Press Coverage on February 26, 2021 at 5:12 am

    C.C. and Sean welcome on not one, but two guests this episode! Elaine Shircliff previews the […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43644854/the_calder_farmstead_episode_15_final.mp3
  • HW 3.24 ft Anthony Di Marco
    by HW Radio on February 24, 2021 at 6:07 am

    In episode 24 of season 3, Jim is joined by special guest, Anthony Di Marco, of The Fourth Period […]

    Your browser does not support the audio element. But you can check this for the original link: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43611554/https_d3ctxlq1ktw2nl_cloudfront_net_staging_2021_1_24_158397934_44100_2_a7a4d7109a46f.mp3
All Shows

  • Opinion: Farewell to Irv Cross, Pioneering TV Analyst
    by Terrance Biggs on March 1, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    Yesterday, former NFL analyst Irv Cross died at the age of 81. Now, to our younger readers, that […]

  • 2021 Raiders Mock Draft: Early March Edition
    by Terrance Biggs on March 1, 2021 at 11:30 am

    Gus Bradley inherits a defensive roster that needs playmakers at all three levels. The Raiders must […]

  • Two-Man Race Between McDavid & Matthews for 2021 Hart Trophy
    by Lyle Richardson on March 1, 2021 at 12:40 am

    As we near the midway point of the shortened 2021 NHL season, two players have separated themselves […]

  • 2021 Dolphins Draft Profile: Safety Jevon Holland
    by Daniel Roberts on February 28, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    Miami could target safety Jevon Holland with one of its multiple early round draft picks to improve […]

  • “It’s Like Disney World” – Blue Jays Unveil Player Development Complex
    by Carter Brooks on February 27, 2021 at 11:47 pm

    This past week, the Toronto Blue Jays unveiled the club's new state-of-the-art practice and […]

Full Press Hockey

2020 Full Press Coverage

Navigate Site

  • NHL
  • AHL
  • KHL
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • NHL Draft
  • Prospects
  • Podcasts
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Shop

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • NHL
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • AHL
  • KHL
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • NHL Draft
  • Prospects
  • Podcasts
    • Big Bad Bruins Podcast
    • Off The Post Radio
    • C4 Canucks Podcast
    • High and Wide Radio
    • Fourth Line Hockey Pod
    • The Calder Farmstead
    • Front Range Podcast
  • Full Press Coverage
  • Shop

2020 Full Press Coverage