Ilya Sorokin Robs Jack Hughes When the puck drops Saturday night between the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/game-day/new-york-islanders-devils-coyotes-buffalo-2-0-1-record-three-games] and Buffalo Sabres, Ilya Sorokin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/game-day/ilya-sorokin-new-york-islanders-jack-hughes-highlight-reel-save-1] won't be between the pipes. After Sorokin got the nod for the first three games, including the front end of the back-to-back Friday night in the 5-4 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils, it's Semyon Varlamov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-ilya-sorokin-semyon-varlamov-goaltending-tandems-2023-24]'s time to shine. Varlamov, who signed a four-year extension worth $11 million on July 1, has not played in a game since April 1. He came in to relieve Sorokin, stopping 10 of 11 in a 5-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning, The grizzled veteran's final start of the season came on March 25 against Buffalo, stopping 33 of 34 in a 2-0 (ENG) shutout loss. Although the signs have been there since Sorokin stepped onto the ice in the Canadian bubble, Varlamov is a true backup goaltender after starting a career-low 22 starts in 2022-23. In 23 appearances last season, Varlamov posted an 11-9-2 record, with a .913 SV% and a 2.70 GAA, with two shutouts. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjUyOTgzMjA3ODMxMzE2/usatsi_19327186.jpg] Following the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline on March 3, Varlamov only made two starts as Sorokin carried the workload with the Islanders fighting for a wild-card spot, starting all six games against the Carolina Hurricanes in their first-round loss. "I feel ready. A lot of skating in the past few weeks. A lot of work. I'm feeling pretty good," Varlamov said Friday morning. "Obviously, haven't played, besides...it's been like, what, two weeks? But I had a lot of good practices, a lot of good skates. I feel like I'm ready." Despite being a 15-year NHL veteran, catching up to game speed could be a factor on Saturday, and Varlamov won't know how ready he is until the game begins. "We'll find out tomorrow," Varlamov said. "Every game is different. Sometimes, you feel good from the beginning. Sometimes you don't. Sometimes, it takes you some time to adjust to the speed and everything. Every game is different, brings different scenarios. "My job is just same. Never changed. I just have to go out there and battle and then give the team a chance to win, and this is what I'm going to try to do tomorrow." Despite the Sabres just 1-3-0 out of the gate, this is a different Sabres team over the last year than what we had become accustomed to. The Islanders 3-2 win at UBS Arena on opening night means nothing. "Every game is different. We do a bunch of meetings before every game. We have a plan that we have to follow," Varlamov said. "We're going to be prepared. "Buffalo is playing good hockey at home. It's a very dangerous offensive team. They create a lot of scoring chances around the net, they playing fast game, good transition game, so we got to be ready from the beginning of the game." Varlamov has faced the Sabres 18 times in his career, owning a 13-4-1 record, with a .937 SV% (career best) and a .193 GAA (second-best), with 2 shutouts.
