Stefen Rosner on Morning Cuppa Hockey Talking Islanders EAST MEADOW, NY -- Semyon Varlamov will get the nod from head coach Patrick Roy when the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] host the Detroit Red Wings. The 36-year-old, who has been as consistent as they come for the Islander since signing in the summer of 2019, got off to a slow start. Through his first four starts of the season, Varlamov was 1-2-1, with a 3.75 GAA and an underwhelming .856 SV%. He allowed 15 goals on 104 shots. But, over his last four games, he's flipped the switch, going 2-1-1 with a 1.50 GAA and a .946 SV%. Over that span, he's stopped 106 of 112 shots he's faced. "He's been very good," Roy said on Monday morning. "He was really good against Calgary. He wasn't really tested -- I think we gave up, what, six shots against Vancouver after two periods -- it's not an easy game. And then we gave, like, what, 20 in the third period. But he's been really consistent, and he's giving us a chance to win every night. And I hope that's what he's going to do tonight." Varlamov is not your typical elite goaltender in today's NHL. While he can make jaw-dropping saves, the acrobatic stuff you see from Ilya Sorokin isn't his cup of tea. Varlamov shines with his positioning, which is why he's remained consistent over his 17-year NHL career. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwOTU2MjE2MzA0Njc0Nzkz/usatsi_24804531.jpg] When a goalie is positionally sound, he can control his rebounds much more effectively than a goalie who dives left and right. Rebound control reduces fatigue for the goalie and the defense, who don't have to dive to block in-tight shots. It also allows the defense to anticipate where pucks are going, giving them a leg up on winning a puck race and starting a breakout. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwOTU2MjIzMjgzOTk2NjQ5/usatsi_24803814.jpg] Varlamov's calmness also pays dividends to his defense and gives him an advantage against opponents. Varlamov is never panicking, whether it's odd-man rushes, 1-on-1 chances, the penalty kill, or just being behind the net. When an opponent sees a goalie panicking to make plays, it indicates a lack of confidence in their decision-making. When there's a lack of confidence, you see the goalie struggling to control his rebounds, looking behind him on simple shots, or trying to cheat the game by moving too early, which provides more net for the shooter. Varlamov isn't a perfect goalie, but when he gets beaten, it very rarely happens from straight shots. The Islanders' defensive structure, especially lately, has been pretty strong, so if they can continue that against the Red Wings, Varlamov will give them a great chance to push their win streak to a modest two games.
