Semyon Varlamov finally gets back in goal for Islanders, returning from injury
Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov protects the net against Chicago in the second period of an NHL game at UBS Arena on Dec. 5. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
CALGARY, Alberta — Semyon Varlamov got better as the game progressed, though it still ended with the Islanders losing to the Flames, 4-1, on Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome.
That wasn’t surprising for a goalie making his first start since injuring his groin on Dec. 17.
“There were moments, certainly, when he looked sharp,” coach Lane Lambert said. “He’s been huge for us all year and he’ll be huge going forward.”
Varlamov finished with 17 saves after the Flames scored three goals on six shots in the first period. He had won four of five decisions before getting hurt but now is 8-4-1 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. He was activated off injured reserve on Monday.
“When goalies come back, they do a lot of preparation,” coach Lane Lambert said. “Our goalie has done a lot of preparation. So it starts there. And then, getting him up to game speed right away, which I don’t think is a problem for any goaltender coming back as long as they’ve prepared properly.”
Not scratched
Rookie center Aatu Raty was slated to be a healthy scratch for the first time as Casey Cizikas took pregame line rushes with Ross Johnston and Matt Martin and Mathew Barzal skated with Anders Lee and Josh Bailey.
But Barzal (lower body) was a last-minute scratch and Raty logged 8:31 without a shot. Cizikas skated in Barzal’s intended spot.
Memories
Plans for a new arena to replace the Flames’ aging home still have not been completed with the city of Calgary. So the venerable Saddledome remains the last “barn” in the NHL after the Islanders left Nassau Coliseum.
“I played here way back in ’83-84 as a rookie,” Lambert said. “It’s a fun building. It’s been around a long time. It’s a good place to play.”
One of the unique features is a catwalk that leads both to the press box on a gondola and allows people to walk directly over the ice along the roof to the other side of the arena.
“I’ve been upstairs a couple of times,” Lambert said. “It’s OK. It’s an interesting way to get up to the press box. I came and watched a game when I was with a former team.”
Isles files
RW Kyle Palmieri (injured reserve/upper body) missed his 10th game and 20th out of 21 . . . Asked if any injured players could return for Tuesday night’s game against the Stars at UBS Arena, Lambert said, “We’ll look at that over the next couple of days. I know a couple of guys have skated.” Palmieri has resumed skating with the team and RW Simon Holmstrom (lower body) was skating in New York. It was not clear whether Lambert also meant D Adam Pelech (injured reserve/suspected head injury), who has been out since Dec. 6 . . . D Robin Salo was the healthy scratch.
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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