Difference Between Varlamov & Sorokin The New York Islanders picked up one of their biggest wins of the season with a 2-0 shutout victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. It's the Isles fourth straight win, and now sit third in the Metropolitan Division. Semyon Varlamov made 39 stops to blank the Predators and pick up the win, while Noah Dobson's tenth goal of the season turned out to be the game-winner. Mathew Barzal is now on a four-game point streak. With 5:49 to go in the first period. Horvat had a tremendous scoring chance on a semi-breakaway and rang a shot off the post. Horvat had another solid chance on that shift but it was blocked. Later, Robert Bortuzzo turned the puck over right in front of Varlamov and Nashville nearly capitalized. Varlamov made some incredible stops to keep the puck out of the net. Both teams had a few chances, but play was nearly even. After 20 minutes the game was scoreless. The Islanders and Predators were close in shots as New York took 12 and Nashville took 10. Nashville came out flying to start the second period, but the isles came on strong. Soon after, the Islanders struck first. With 10:53 to go into the second Dobson scored on a shot from the right point. The puck swung across the zone from Barzal to Mike Reilly, then D-to-D for Dobson who fired the puck into the net through traffic to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead. Each team had an opportunity on the power play in the back half of the second period, with no success. The best chance came by the Islanders while shorthanded, where Kyle Palmieri missed a rebound chance. The Islanders led 1-0 after the second period, with Dobson scoring the game's only goal to this point. Nashville had more shots in the second, with 12 compared to the Islanders eight. New York had quite the task 6:05 into the third period as Nelson took a high sticking penalty. Right as the Islanders killed it off, Holmstrom went to the box for a slash, and the Islanders killed that penalty off too. The score remained 1-0 as the game entered the final ten minutes. Barzal rang a shot off the bar with 8:35 left in the game, coming close to giving the Islanders a two-goal lead. With the Predators making one last push, Kyle Palmieri scored a goal from his own end on a soft wrister, into an empty net with 1:19 left to make it 2-0. Alex Romanov was credited with the assist. The Islanders are back in action on Tuesday as they host the New York Rangers at UBS Arena.
