Semyon Varlamov Is the Best Goalie in the NHL Playoffs
Even though Semyon Varlamov has the worst goals against average of the four goalies left in the NHL Playoffs, he might be the best.
One bad goal was the difference in a close Game 1 between the Islanders and Lightning, and Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed it. The former Vezina Trophy winner and Stanley Cup Champion has better numbers than Varlamov, and almost everyone considers Vasilevskiy the better goalie in this series.
Indeed, Varlamov ranks seventh in save percentage and 11th in GAA. For comparison, Toronto Maple Leafs’ goalie Jack Campbell ranks first in SV%. His team blew a 3-1 series lead in Round 1 to Montreal. Edmonton Oilers’ goalie Mike Smith ranks ahead of Varlamov in GAA. The Oilers didn’t win a game in the playoffs.
The only reason Varlamov’s statistics paint a false picture of a mediocre goalie is due to a single bad game in the First Round. With the Isles’ First Round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins tied 1-1, Varlamov was tasked with building off a strong losing effort and winning on home ice. Unfortunately for Varlamov, he allowed five goals on 27 shots. Fortunately for the Islanders, the loss prompted Barry Trotz to put Ilya Sorokin back in the net. He carried the Isles past the Penguins in six games.
What If?
When Varlamov got another chance in Round 2, he didn’t take it for granted. In the Second Round, he went 4-1 with a .933 SV% and a 2.40 GAA.
What differentiates Varlamov from Vasilevskiy is that the latter has posted four times as many sub-.900 SV% performances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Two of them were wins. Vasilevskiy has looked like a world-beater on some nights but has had plenty of off nights too. Factoring out Vasilevskiy’s bad games would portray him as a far better goalie than he’s been these playoffs. Varlamov had one bad night so far, so it’s reasonable to think that game was an outlier.
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Even if he’s not the best goalie left in the NHL Playoffs, Semyon Varlamov might be the better goalie in the series. He has a chance to send the Islanders to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1984.
Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.
