Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov to start in net for first time in nearly two years vs. Rangers
Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov tends the ned during a preseason game against the Rangers at UBS Arena on Sept. 25. Credit: Errol Anderson
Semyon Varlamov, who has missed almost two years and underwent two partial knee replacement surgeries, will start for the Islanders on Tuesday night against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
“A surgery no one’s really had before in professional sports,” Kyle Palmieri said.
It will mark Varlamov’s first NHL regular-season start since Nov. 29, 2024.
“The culmination of a long journey,” coach Pete DeBoer said after Tuesday’s morning skate at the Garden in confirming Varlamov’s start. “When you talk to the group, it hasn’t gone unnoticed how much work he’s put in behind the scenes. They saw him in the gym every day. They saw him working to get back every day last year. Our hope is the group wants to reward him with a really solid effort around him tonight.”
Varlamov, 38, is the final season of a four-year, $11 million deal. He appeared in two preseason games for the Islanders – playing the full game in his last appearance, a 6-1 loss to the Rangers at UBS Arena on Sept. 25 – and ended last season starting two games for their AHL affiliate, then based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, including one AHL playoff match.
Varlamov carries a 14-8-2 career record against the Rangers – 10-3-1 at the Garden – with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage into Tuesday’s match.
“He has that positive outlook and positive attitude that makes him an unbelievable teammate, an unbelievable goalie,” Palmieri said. “We’re just really happy to be part of him coming back and being in the net tonight.”
Varlamov served as Ilya Sorokin’s backup as the Islanders split their first two games, including a 6-0 win over the Devils in Saturday night’s home opener at UBS Arena.
“I was looking forward to that,” Varlamov said after Monday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow of dressing for an NHL game. “Getting a game as a backup and feeling the atmosphere. I had that experience in Toronto (a 2-1 loss this past Wednesday) and the home opener. It was really good for me. Emotional stuff. It’s been a while. So I was very excited about being part of the team.”
Tuesday night will mark the next step for Varlamov.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
