Varlamov Finding Form After Slow Start: Importance of Islanders Goaltending Tandem Amid Injuries

With New York Islanders starting goalie Ilya Sorokin a major question mark entering the 2024-25 season due to offseason back surgery, Patrick Roy had to rely on Semyon Varlamov early.

Unfortunately, Varlamov did not get off to the best of starts, allowing three or more goals in three of his first four starts.

After Varlamov allowed five goals on 28 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 26, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy was honest about what he'd seen from Varlamov.

"It's tough because Varly had been so good for us, and he's a big boy. He knows he could have maybe gotten a couple of those," Roy said. "But hey, listen, it's a team game. We don't let our goalie down, and we have to find a way to win those games, even if maybe he was not at his best."

At the following practice, we asked Roy about maybe running with Sorokin, who had and has gotten off to a tremendous start.

There was a back-to-back coming up, so both goaltenders were going to play anyway. Sorokin was being tasked with the Anaheim Ducks, while Varlamov was to get the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

"In Columbus, Varly is gonna be back, and I'm happy for Varly to be back," Roy said. "Varly knows, and I know he will bounce back."

And that Varlamov did, putting forth his best performance of the season in a 2-0 shutout loss. He made 32 saves on 34 shots.

Varlamov's strength is his positioning, and when he's dialed in, he's incredibly difficult to beat. That's why, at 36, he can still be effective, unlike goalies who rely solely on reflexes.

Because of Sorokin's strong start, Roy went with him for three straight games, the Islanders going 2-1-0 over that span.

But, against the Ottawa Senators, Roy gave No. 30 a break, with No. 40 back in between the pipes, a week after his previous start.

Varlamov rewarded that decision with a brilliant performance, stopping 28 of 30 in a 4-2 win, the team's second straight to improve to 3-1-0 over their last four games.

"With all the injuries we have, we are going to need great goaltending, and Varly was really good tonight, like Ilya was the the game before against Pittsburgh," Roy said. "Goaltending is an important part of our team. And tonight, we had another good, solid performance."

Getting Varlamov back on track is so vital for this Islanders team because it allows Roy to give Sorokin breaks without sacrificing the Islanders' chances to win games.

It's a luxury Long Island has had for a handful of years, given general manager Lou Lamoriello's value in tandems.

But Roy nailed it on the head regarding the injuries.

With players skating in different roles, specifically the defense with Ryan Pulock playing his off-side, Isaiah George not having the experience with Grant Hutton and Dennis Cholowski fringe NHLers, his goalies are going to have to save the day at one time or another, and we've seen that.

Although Sorokin is the clear-cut starter, the Islanders' tandem appears to be rounding into form, just like the team.