Semyon Varlamov outplays Carter Hart as Islanders blank Flyers in Game 1
The Islanders and Flyers have plenty in common, from their attention to defensive details to a four-line balance. So as often is the case in the NHL playoffs, goaltending is likely to be the deciding factor in their second-round series.
If so, the Islanders have to feel good. They scored three goals in the third period and Semyon Varlamov made 29 saves for his second straight postseason shutout in a 4-0 win over Philadelphia in Game 1 on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Varlamov’s shutout streak of 136:20, including 21 saves in a clinching 4-0 win over the Capitals in Game 5 of the first round, is the second longest in Islanders playoff history, 39 seconds behind Hall of Famer Billy Smith.
“We’re playing well defensively. Of course I’m going to mention that,” said Varlamov, whose previous two playoff shutouts came in 2009 while he was with the Capitals. “The guys played well in front. It feels good to get back-to-back shutouts, but at this point, it’s not about shutouts. To me, the most important thing is to get the win and get ready for the next game. Of course I’m excited about it, I’m not going to lie. But it is what it is.”
The Islanders started strongly in the first period, finished stronger in the third and survived a rough second as the Flyers spent most of the time in the offensive zone.
“We know how important the first game of each series is,” Varlamov said. “It’s important to win the first and have a good start. We did that again today, but it’s going to be a long series. It’s not about one game. It’s about winning four.”
Islanders defenseman Andy Greene said of Varlamov: “He’s playing fantastic. He’s making the hard saves look easy. When there are breakdowns, we know he’s there for us, and vice versa. We’re trying to let him see the pucks. If we can clear the traffic out, he’s going to make the save.”
The teams will play Games 2 and 3 back-to-back on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday night.
Carter Hart, 10 years Varlamov’s junior at 22, made 25 saves for the Flyers, who had top-pair defenseman Matt Niskanen back in the lineup after a one-game suspension for his cross-check on the Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher in that six-game first-round series.
The Islanders built a 15-4 shot advantage in the first period and took a 1-0 lead as Greene’s blue-line shot got through traffic at 6:06. It was his first playoff goal since 2010.
Greene preserved that one-goal lead, blocking Travis Konecny’s open look at the net at 18:29. Varlamov also stopped Kevin Hayes’ first-period breakaway.
Third-line wings Ross Johnston and Leo Komarov barreled in on the forecheck as Komarov dug the puck out and found a wide-open Jean-Gabriel Pageau for a 2-0 lead at 2:54 of the third period. Hart seemed surprised by the swiftness of the sequence.
Anders Lee made it 3-0 at 8:50 as Mathew Barzal, from the right circle, fed him across the ice as he cut to the crease.
Flyers coach Alain Vigneault made the surprising call to pull Hart for an extra skater at 12:10, and just 11 seconds later, defenseman Devon Toews scored an empty-netter from his own end.
“We just tried to come back to our game plan,” Pageau said. “Put the puck in deep. Win our battles down there. When we got away from that, they gained a little bit of momentum. Varly was really solid to keep it scoreless.”
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.
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