NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After a grueling wait of 712 days, Semyon Varlamov finally left the ice with an NHL win on Tuesday night.
His last victory had been way back on November 14, 2024, in Vancouver, and things were quite different then—another coach, another general manager, and a roster that included current Islanders advisor Matt Martin. Unfortunately, Varlamov sustained an injury shortly afterward.
Since that time, he has had to undergo two partial knee replacements and endure long months of rehabilitation, all while facing the prevailing thought that his career might be over.
So, before diving into the details of the Islanders’ 4-3 victory and Bo Horvat’s shootout winner against the Predators, it’s worth pausing to appreciate this personal milestone.
Securing that win—a hard-fought one at that, with Varlamov making 20 saves and showcasing his most confident performance this season—was truly an impressive feat.
It’s been almost two years since Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin formed a goaltending duo that gave the Islanders confidence that they could compete every game. With the team’s management now banking on Varlamov returning to form, that faith may well be restored.
However, the standout takeaway from the game wasn’t just about goaltending; it was more about the team’s overall performance.
Following a challenging loss in Dallas— which coach Pete DeBoer deemed their worst showing of the season—the Islanders responded assertively with a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
Their plays were sharp, with solid passes and a vigorous fighting spirit. One of the best moments came early in the second period when the Islanders executed a one-minute puck movement before Matthew Schaefer set up Bo Horvat for a stunning one-timer that put them up 3-0.
That score, though, was still early enough that the Predators weren’t out of the game yet.
Of course, the Islanders encountered some trouble soon after.
In a game marked by numerous whistles, the Islanders successfully killed off their first three penalties. However, on their fourth, a hook by Brayden Schenn, Filip Forsberg scored just 14 seconds in, narrowing the gap to 3-1.
Just three minutes later, a turnover by Schaefer allowed Alexander Kerfoot to make it 3-2 for the Predators.
When the Islanders failed to capitalize on their fourth power play of the night, the Predators quickly punished them, with Ryan O’Reilly scoring to tie the game at 4:16 of the third period.
Late in regulation, the Islanders found themselves on the back foot, needing some frantic defensive plays just to reach overtime. Yet, they ultimately managed to gain an extra point.
After Schaefer drew a penalty at the beginning of overtime, the Islanders dominated possession for a taxing 1:45 before Nashville could finally touch the puck.
Still, they couldn’t convert on the power play after choosing to keep Schaefer, Horvat, and Simon Holmstrom on the bench for over four minutes.
In the end, shootout goals from Kyle Palmieri and Horvat secured the victory, leading to jubilant embraces for Varlamov.
Considering the Islanders’ poor track record at Bridgestone Arena—having not won there since 2017 and experiencing some strange defeats in recent years—they managed to turn the tide this time.
This win wasn’t just a celebration for Varlamov; it brought a much-needed sigh of relief for the Islanders as they look ahead to their next three games against Stanley Cup contenders—their upcoming opponents include Minnesota, Edmonton, and the Hurricanes. They definitely needed this win before facing such significant tests.
