Islanders' defense, goaltending have been playoff-caliber during winning streak
Semyon Varlamov and Casey Cizikas of the Islanders celebrate after defeating the Predators at UBS Arena on Saturday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Labeling a game “playoff-like hockey” can be a broad term referring to anything from how loud the crowd is to any simmering animosity between the teams to how exciting the finish.
But perhaps the most common thread is strong defense and goaltending, at least as it relates to the Islanders and how they must play — and how they have played during the critical four-game winning streak that has significantly increased their odds of making the playoffs.
It’s something that must continue during their challenging five-game stretch to end the regular season, starting Tuesday against the Rangers at UBS Arena. It is — in a complete indictment of the NHL’s scheduling matrix — the first time their New York rivals have visited their rink since Oct. 26, 2022.
“You have to win those 1-0 games, and that’s playoff hockey,” coach Patrick Roy said after Saturday night’s impressive 2-0 win over the playoff-bound Predators at UBS Arena backed by goalie Semyon Varlamov’s 41-save gem.
“If you’re looking at the race right now, the teams that are playing well defensively, the teams that find ways to not give goals, are giving themselves a chance to win every night, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
The Islanders (35-27-15), in third place in the Metropolitan Division, also will face the Rangers at Madison Square Garden in their final five games, as well as playing the Devils on the road and hosting the Canadiens and Penguins. The Islanders are battling the Penguins, Flyers, Capitals and Red Wings for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, including the second wild-card position.
But the Islanders are a combined 1-7-2 against the teams they will play in their final five games. They have no regulation wins, having beaten only the Penguins, 5-4, in overtime on the road on Feb. 20, two days after blowing a three-goal second-period lead in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Rangers in their Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium.
But are these a different brand of Islanders, ramping up to play their best hockey at the right time of the season in playoff-like conditions?
The Islanders have outscored their opponents, including the fading Flyers, lottery-bound Chicago and the Eastern Conference-worst Blue Jackets, 12-6 during their winning streak.
“When we had to kill, we killed,” Varlamov said of the Islanders’ NHL-worst penalty kill, which was 3-for-3 against the Predators and is 6-for-7 in the winning streak. “Our guys blocked a lot of shots [33].”
Varlamov is 5-1-1 in his last seven starts and has been in net in five of the last eight games over No. 1 Ilya Sorokin. He’s the likely starter against the Rangers.
“He’s been outstanding,” Casey Cizikas said. “He’s always ready. He’s playing great hockey right now.”
Playoff hockey, perhaps.
Notes & quotes: The Islanders’ 50-50 raffle on Saturday raised a record $152,659, with all proceeds going to the family of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller of Massapequa Park . . . The Islanders did not practice on Sunday.
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.
