Games Like Thursday Are Why Islanders Invested in Varlamov
The New York Islanders have lost six games and now play a Seattle Kraken team who are also on the second of a back-to-back. Games like Thursday are why the Islanders invested in Semyon Varlamov.
SEATTLE, WA -- The New York Islanders have problems, trends rather, that they cannot seem to stop as they've fallen in six straight games.
Elite netminder Ilya Sorokin, who inked an eight-year extension worth $8.25 million annually (which begins in 2024-25), hasn't been elite Sorokin.
In six of his 10 starts, he's allowed four or more goals, owning a 3.21 GAA and.907 SV%, with 1 shutout on the young campaign, posting a record of 3-3-4.
Regardless of his ridiculous saves thus far, some goals have gone in that the Islanders needed to be stopped, ones that Sorokin is more than capable of getting a pad in front of.
It's hard to blame Sorokin, as he's been under siege each game, and his teammates in front of him, whether it be the abundance of penalties, coverage miscues, or screens, has made life difficult for the 2022-23 Vezina finalist.
He's even had two games this year where he's been perfect at five-on-five but lost both.
When the Islanders have needed those big saves, especially on the penalty kill, Sorokin failed to come up with it. Again, that's not to say he's been bad, but Sorokin set an incredibly high bar for himself over the last few years, and he's struggled to hit that bar consistently in 2023-24:
He's also been in goal for all four overtime losses, allowing four goals on eight shots.
As the Islanders face a struggling Seattle Kraken team Thursday night, a squad that has lost five of their last six games (1-3-2), head coach Lane Lambert has a choice to make.
Does he go back to Sorokin with the Islanders needing a win on the second of a back-to-back against a team that is also coming off a blown-lead loss on Wednesday? Or does Lambert go the Semyon Varlamov route?
Last season, in crunch time, Lambert called Sorokin's name seemingly every night as Varlamov watched from the bench, making just three starts after the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline before watching all six playoff games against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Varlamov had the chance to go elsewhere this summer but didn't turn down a four-year deal worth $11 million to remain on Long Island as the "backup."
And games like Thursday night are why the Islanders invested in Varlamov.
Unlike Sorokin, Varlamov relies on positioning rather than reflexes.
Although the Islanders haven't been better in front of Varlamov, he's been a calming presence in goal and has looked a tad more confident than Sorokin.
The 35-year-old owns a 2.04 GAA with a .940 SV% and two shutouts as he's come up with those saves in crucial moments despite a 2-3-0 record.
Sorokin entered the season as the clear-cut No. 1 netminder, and for good reason, but Lambert has gone back and forth between Sorokin and Valramov in each of the last nine games before giving Sorokin Wednesday night's start after a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Monday.
"I mean, If I get a chance to play, I play," Varlamov said after watching the 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks from the bench. "I'm working hard. The results will show up."
The only thing Varlamov hasn't done this season to help the Islanders is score a goal.
He's averaged 1.8 goals of support but has given the Islanders a chance to win all five games he's started.
Varlamov has had more success on the penalty kill than Sorokin this season, allowing just one shorthanded goal, stopping 21 of 22 shots for a .955 SV% and a Goals Saved Above Average of 3.02, while the Islanders have been on the penalty kill, according to NaturalStatrick.com.
The Islanders need as much help on the penalty kill as possible, as they've been successful just 11 times on 20 opportunities during this six-game skid.
Suppose Sorokin does get the back-to-back start Thursday, given his ability to steal games, which he hasn't done at a high rate this season. In that case, the Islanders should have spent Varlamov's annual cap hit of $2.75 million on another defenseman or depth forward.
That's not to say the Islanders are guaranteed a win with whichever goaltender gets the nod, but right now, it's hard to say Varlamov doesn't give them an equal or better chance to secure the two points Thursday night and stop the losing streak.