The past month has been one to forget for the New York Islanders as they went 4-8-3 and fell to sixth place in the Metropolitan Division. That said, they found a way to head into the All-Star Break on a high note with a 2-1 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights, allowing them to sweep the season series against the Western Conference opponent.
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With the win, the Islanders have won back-to-back games. While the past month has made it easy to think that the Islanders won’t make the playoffs, the recent games were a reminder of how they can turn their season around. The Islanders have a talented roster, and a hot streak can catapult this team back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
Varlamov’s Remarkable Performance
The recent win was a reminder of the dominance of the Islanders’ goaltending. A night after Ilya Sorokin helped lead them to a 2-0 shutout win against the Detroit Red Wings, Semyon Varlamov stepped up in the net and put together one of his best performances of the season. Varlamov saved 44 of the 45 shots he faced with some remarkable saves that allowed the Islanders to win the game, including one of the best saves of the year.
In the second period with the Islanders leading 1-0, the Golden Knights looked poised to find the back of the net. Reilly Smith shot the puck on an open net, but Varlamov managed to get his paddle to the puck and kept it from crossing the goal line. It wasn’t an acrobatic save but one that required great instincts and quick reflexes from Varlamov.
Varlamov helped carry the Islanders to overtime and appropriately capped off the night with a save on a penalty shot to allow the team to win the game. The Islanders’ goaltending has carried the roster all season and while they haven’t been able to lead them to a playoff spot, both Varlamov and Sorokin give the team a chance to win every game. If the Islanders turn their season around, it will be on the backs of their goaltending duo.
Palmieri Add Spark to Forward Unit
Kyle Palmieri’s return to the lineup has been pivotal to the team’s success in the last two games. He’s one of the best forwards on the team and provides a much-needed spark when he’s on the ice. Against the Golden Knights, he was impactful in all three zones and applied pressure with his puck-handling and quick shots on the net.
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