Start Semyon Varlamov in goal on the road and you'll get a shutout. It's as easy -- well, not THAT easy -- as all that. But two for two in the Zero Department is nothing to sneeze at; even in Hay Fever Season.
The Maven Presents free of charge -- Hockey Analytics Made Easy:
Start Semyon Varlamov in goal on the road and you'll get a shutout.
It's as easy -- well, not THAT easy -- as all that. But two for two in the Zero Department is nothing to sneeze at; even in Hay Fever Season.
The Islanders Also Number One Goaltender earned his second straight goose egg thanks to a 32 save effort,3-0 decision last nigh at Capital One Arena.
"Varly was the best player on the ice," said MSG Networks analyst Thomas Hickey. "Period!"
And in second place, how about Ryan Pulock who scored the winning goal only 22 seconds into the first period.
"November Nelson" was the architect on the score thanks to a neat pass to his defenseman following a relay from Kyle Palmieri. Pulock's shot was a wrister through a screen.
"The first couple of periods were a little sloppy," Pulock explained, "but we stuck with it and played the third period more like Islanders hockey."
The "insurance goal" was delivered at 10:41 of the opener when the Blue and Orange's latest Dipsy-Doodle Dandy, Simon Holmstrom, mamboed around Caps ace defender John Carlson and then put a one-timer past Darcy Kuemper.
At Last Returned To Action Hudson Fasching and Jean-Gabriel Pageau got helpers on that one.
Thomas Hickey: "Every win comes in different shapes, different sizes and different things that happen. This time it started with Varlamov and proceeded from there."
From a goal-scoring viewpoint, the finishing touch was applied in the middle period by the formerly Brocktober Nelson now doing his thing in November of all things. A radar-like pass from Pierre Engvall started the rush with early help from returned-to-action Scott Mayfield.
"It wasn't the Islanders cleanest game after two periods," added MSG Networks play by play announcer Brendan Burke, "but what mattered is that they had a 3-0 lead heading into the third period."
Nor did it turn out to be a "Dreaded Three-Goal Lead."
And as a delightful added fillip, coach Lane Lambert won a key coach's challenge with just under 11 minutes left in the third period.
A shot by Hardy Haman Aktell deflected off T.J. Oshie and into the net. Lambert challenged that Oshie "interfered" with Varlamov and was upheld on the protest.
As one press box reporter noted: "It was a huge challenge at that point in the game overturning what would have been the Caps first goal."
Burke: "Nine Islanders shots through the first 40 minutes was not the best way to play a hockey game but it's not about quantity of shots, it's about quality. Three shots ended up in the back of the net."
Zach Weinstock, co-author with David Kolb and The Maven on the Islanders brand-new 50th anniversary book offered a compelling commentary on goaltending for the Elmonters:
"Varly is a road warrior for this team. Sorokin is the better performer at home. So, it's good to see Varlamov embrace the away assignments. It's a really good niche for him."
Another plus was Fasching's return to stabilize the Pageau-Holmstrom line.
But MSG analyst Butch Goring is perceptive when he opines that the Isles are "a work in progress."
In the old days, newsmen used to close their stories with the "Three-OH Mark (3-0) for the night," So this time the Nassaumen dropped the curtain on the victory by outshooting Washington, 12-9, in the last period.
And thus ends The Maven's analytics lesson for the night. Next one will be tomorrow evening (7:30 p.m.) at UBS Arena when the Hurricanes blow into town!