Should Semyon Varlamov or Ilya Sorokin Start Game 4?
Semyon Varlamov started Games 2 and 3 for the Islanders against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Barry Trotz will have to decide if he starts the veteran netminder again in Game 4 on Saturday.
The Islanders are a defensive-minded team that brings out the best in its goaltenders. Semyon Varlamov had a Vezina-worthy season for the Islanders with a .929 save percentage and 2.04 goals against average. But rookie Ilya Sorokin was also outstanding, posting a .918 SV% and 2.17 GAA.
Sorokin started in Game 1 since Varlamov was injured. But in Game 2, Trotz made the controversial decision of starting Varlamov. The Islanders went on to lose Game 2 as well as Game 3, both with Varlamov in net. In fact, Game 3 was Varlamov’s worst performance of the season, from a statistical standpoint, since he allowed five goals against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 28.
There was no reason for Trotz to rush Varlamov back into the starting position especially after Sorokin’s Game 1 performance. He stopped 39 of 42 shots, which is incredible! Why bench the hot goalie? Despite Varlamov’s solid Game 2, the Islanders are in a 2-1 hole in the series. Varlamov isn’t playing his best, and the Islanders need his best in order to win.
Ilya Sorokin’s Experience
Ilya Sorokin has plenty of playoff experience. He played in the KHL for eight years and played 69 games in the playoffs. He had an outstanding playoff career in the Russian league, registering a .940 SV% and 1.37 GAA. In addition, Sorokin was the KHL Playoffs MVP in 2019 after posting a 16-4 record en route to CSKA Moscow’s championship run.
Sorkin’s experience in the KHL definitely helped his transition to North America. It also seemed to translate into his outstanding NHL playoff debut in Game 1. Despite a shaky start, he picked up his game tremendously and stopped 39 of 42 total shots. I was very impressed with the way he played in his NHL playoff debut. He didn’t seem to let the pressure get to him at any point. Some of the saves he made were incredible and he kept the Islanders in the game after the Penguins’ first goal. The Islanders were going into Game 2 on a good note.
Varlamov’s Game 2 and Game 3 Performance
Trotz decided it would be best for the team to start recently injured goaltender Semyon Varlamov in a huge Game 2. This immediately looked like a poor decision for Trotz as Varlamov allowed a terrible goal not even five minutes into the first period. Besides that one hiccup, Varlamov looked great the rest of the game. He made 43 saves and had a .956 SV%, but the Islanders lost 2-1. Not making that early mistake could have led to a completely different series.
Game 3, a 5-4 Penguins victory, was a different story. If a defensively-oriented team like the Islanders scores four goals, they probably won. That wasn’t the case Thursday night, as every time the Islanders clawed their way back into the game, the Penguins found a way to respond. The officiating was sketchy, but Varlamov’s .815 SV% is the main reason the Islanders lost Game 3. I think some of the goals were preventable, and Varlamov should take most of the blame for the loss.
Sorokin Should Start Game 4
Semyon Varlamov shouldn’t be starting Game 4. Ilya Sorokin played extremely well in Game 1, and deserves another shot to even the series for the Islanders. Game 4 is incredibly important for the Islanders to win, and the decision Trotz makes about the starting goaltender can change the series, so let’s hope it is the right one.
