Isles' Semyon Varlamov likely will get chance to extend Garden streak
Semyon Varlamov of the Islanders makes a save during the second period against Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche at UBS Arena on Oct. 29. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Semyon Varlamov almost certainly will get a chance to extend his streak of four straight shutouts over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden when the Islanders meet the Blueshirts on Tuesday night.
Ilya Sorokin made 43 saves in Monday night’s 4-3 overtime win over the Flames at UBS Arena.
Coach Lane Lambert does not disclose his starting goalies in advance. “There isn’t really any past history,” he said when asked if past performances go into deciding his goalie rotation. “It’s a next-game mentality, so to speak.”
Varlamov started his Garden shutout streak with a 24-save performance in a 4-0 win on Jan. 14, 2021, the first game of a regular season truncated because of COVID-19. He made 30 saves in a 2-0 win on Feb. 8, 2021, and 25 saves in a 4-0 victory on April 29, 2021.
Last season, Varlamov stopped 27 shots in a 3-0 win at the Garden on April 1.
No update
Gritty RW Cal Clutterbuck exited after logging only 3:32 on six shifts in the first period. Lambert said he did not have an update and the Islanders did not specify whether Clutterbuck was dealing with an upper- or lower-body issue.
He missed Friday’s practice in Detroit for maintenance but played 13:36 with a team-high six hits in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the Red Wings.
Isles files
The Islanders did not take a penalty in a game for the first time since April 9, 2021, against the Rangers . . . The Islanders beat the Flames on home ice for the first time since Nov. 28, 2016 . . . Defenseman Robin Salo was recalled from Bridgeport just a day after being loaned to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate for Sunday’s 1-0 win over visiting Providence. Salo, Ross Johnston and Nikita Soshnikov remained healthy scratches . . . The Islanders have started the season with a franchise-record six straight wins against Western Conference opponents.
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.
