One of the biggest questions that all Islanders’ fans had coming into the 2021-22 NHL season was in regards to the starting goaltender. The debate continues, but there truly is only one answer for the time being. With Semyon Varlamov missing all of training camp and being placed on the injured reserve to start the season, Ilya Sorokin has had to play every game this year.

Sorokin was excellent in those games. After allowing 11 goals after the first two games, he allowed four goals through his next four. Sorokin has without a doubt been stellar. But now, Semyon Varlamov is fully healthy.

Last season, Varlamov was in the talks for the Vezina Trophy all season long, but fell short, and he did not finish in the top-three. Needless to say, Varlamov had one of his career-best seasons. In 36 games played last season, Varlamov posted a 2.04 goals-against average (GAA) with a .929 save percentage. His outstanding play won the Islanders many tight games. Varlamov started in just under 63 percent of the Islanders’ games last season (35 of 56 games).

The Islanders have not seen Varlamov play in a game yet through this young season, but he has been activated off the injured reserve and is now fully healthy. Going forward, the Islanders’ number one goaltender should be Varlamov.

With Sorkin now just entering his second NHL season, I would expect to see a split similar to last season. The Islanders are most successful when their tandem works together, and we have seen that from both of them, but Varlamov should be the starter.

With that said, the Islanders are back in action on Thursday evening in Montreal after a few days off. From there, Trotz should ride the hot hand so both are ready when called upon.

Jacob

Writer for Drive4Five covering the New York Islanders.