Semyon Varlamov didn’t get much of a heroic moment Thursday night, as the Islanders only had 14 shots on net, tying a season low.
But Varlamov was good enough to make some key saves on odd-man rushes, and after a 3-2 win over the Canadiens, Patrick Roy said the netminder’s play would lead to Saturday’s grudge game against the Rangers. asked if he had changed his mind. Scheduled to start.
“No,” Roy said. “We have two very good goalies. Ilya played really well against Chicago and against Columbus. [last week]. He allowed one goal against Chicago and two goals against Columbus. No, it’s not. I’ll go with Ilya. ”
So, after Sorokin was stripped against his friend Igor Shesterkin on Tuesday, the matchup will resume on Saturday, but Rangers manager Peter Laviolette has not yet announced a starter.
What makes this matchup different from others is that it is Sorokin’s best remaining chance to claim a starting spot in Game 1 of a potential playoff series. Varlamov is currently ahead of the 2022 Vezina Trophy contender in this race.
“Varley is in the zone right now,” Roy said. “He’s big, he’s square, he’s tough to take down. And he gave us a chance to stay in that game and win the hockey game.”
Roy has long said publicly that he trusts both netminders, and the proof of that has been in the placement of the netminders over the past few weeks.
Sorokin has started just two games since losing to the Devils on March 24, both against lower-ranked teams. Varlamov has started six games over the same period, including all games against playoff opponents.
The 35-year-old veteran has scored at least one point in seven of his past eight starts and has a .925 save percentage.
Sorokin’s worst slump, which hit rock bottom with six straight losses that included numerous soft goals, appears to be over, at least if his past two starts are any indication.
And as good as Varlamov is, Sorokin’s ceiling is as high as any goalie in the league.
Saturday will be a good time to remember that.
A loss to the Rangers in regulation on Saturday would mark the Islanders’ first three-game losing streak at the Garden since the 2010-11 season, according to team statistician Eric Hornig.
The Islanders did not practice Friday ahead of Saturday’s 12:30 start.
