Patrick Roy names Semyon Varlamov the Islanders’ Game 4 starter vs. Hurricanes
With his New York Islanders on the verge of being swept out of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Patrick Roy confirmed that Semyon Varlamov will start in goal for Game 4 on Saturday.
Roy, who succeeded Lane Lambert as Islanders head coach on January 20, addressed the media on Friday and indicated that he’ll go back to Varlamov in the do-or-die game after briefly switching to Ilya Sorokin for Game 3.
Varlamov started (and lost) Games 1 and 2 of the series in Carolina before being supplanted by Sorokin for Game 3 at UBS Arena on Long Island. Sorokin allowed three goals on 14 shots before being pulled midway through the second period and replaced by Varlamov, who finished the game.
The Islanders haven’t won a playoff series since firing Barry Trotz as head coach in 2022. They lost to the Hurricanes in six games in the first round of last year’s playoffs and are now down three games to none.
Patrick Roy says Semyon Varlamov will start Game 4 for #Isles
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) April 26, 2024Before joining the Islanders in January, Roy had spent the previous five seasons as the head coach and general manager of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. The former Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche goaltender also served as head coach of the Avalanche from 2013 to 2016.
Varlamov was Colorado’s starting goaltender throughout Roy’s time with the team and led the Avs to a surprise playoff berth in 2014. Despite winning the Stanley Cup four times as a player, Roy has never made it past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as an NHL head coach.
The Islanders originally signed Varlamov as an unrestricted free agent from the Avalanche in 2019. The 35-year-old goaltender posted a 14-8-4 record, three shutouts, and a .918 save percentage in 28 games with the Islanders during the 2023–24 regular season; through three playoff games, Varlamov has allowed six goals on 71 shots.
Sorokin, 28, is the Islanders’ franchise goaltender who recently signed a contract that will see him paid $8.25 million per season until 2032. After being pulled in Game 3, Sorokin watched the game from the tunnel leading to the Islanders’ dressing room with all his gear still on, mask included.
The Islanders qualified for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the third-best record in the Metropolitan Division, going 39-27-16 with 94 points and a minus-17 goal differential in the 2023–24 regular season.