Semyon Varlamov Posied to Retake Playoffs Starting Job
Semyon Varlamov has started the last two games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the New York Islanders, and might have taken back his starting job.
Despite losing 2-1 on Thursday, Varlamov made 39 saves after stopping another 39 in Monday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Boston Bruins. Semyon Varlamov is 1-3 with a 2.83 goals against average and a .923 save percentage in four Stanley Cup Playoffs games. Game 4 is Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum.
Now down 2-1 in the series, Barry Trotz and the Islanders need to decide on a starter for Saturday’s must-win game. Do they trust that Varlamov continues to play well despite allowing a soft goal in overtime, or do they go back to Sorokin, who led them to victory in the First Round?
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Ilya Sorokin started Game 1 against Boston and allowed four goals, including two in the third period. The first two goals, however, came off juicy rebounds. Varlamov has much better rebound control, which is likely why he took over in Game 2. I don’t think Trotz took out Sorokin because of his poor save percentage. The Islanders have two starting goalies with their own strengths and weaknesses. Trotz likely felt that Varlamov was better suited to play the Bruins.
I think Varlamov will start on Saturday night. Trotz should look past the weak goal he allowed in overtime, and give a hot goalie another chance. It’s no knock on Sorokin. The rookie goalie won the Islanders a playoff series and is the Islanders’ goalie of the future. But Semyon Varlamov carried this team in the 2020 playoffs and the 2021 regular season. He should start.
But perhaps Game 1 was just a bad game for Sorokin and he deserves another shot after his heroic performance against Pittsburgh. He deserves a shot, and he’ll get that shot. However, Trotz switched to Varlamov already and he has played well in the Second Round. Sure, Varlamov could have a bad game on Saturday, but he has played well enough to earn the start.
The Islanders should be lucky that they have two goaltenders that can win a playoff game. Both deserve to start, but the Islanders should continue riding Varlamov until he cools down.
Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.
