Varlamov Provides 'Boost' in Game 2 OT Win

"Everyone is a hero in our room."
Casey Cizikas was the ultimate hero of Game 2 on Monday night as he delivered the overtime-winner in the New York Islanders' 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins to tie their second round series 1-1. But before Cizikas could win it, Semyon Varlamov displayed a noble effort in his first game since May 20.
The Islanders veteran netminder returned the pipes for the first time since Game 3 against Pittsburgh and was solid in the Islanders first win against Boston coming up 39 saves on 42 shots.

His biggest save, and the one that primed Cizikas for the eventual game winner a few shifts later, came just over 13 minutes into overtime.
Bruins centerman David Krejci tossed a shot to Varlamov's far side from the left faceoff circle. The Islanders netminder made the pad save. But more impressively, Varlamov slid across his crease to smother Taylor Hall's desperate effort to jam-in the rebound.
"For him to come up like that and do that big save, it gives us that little boost that sometimes you need," Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who scored and had an assist in the win, said. "We were able to create chances. We had our looks and when you see that your goalie has your back, it's massive. I'm very happy for him to make that big save. It gave us the boost to go get that win after."
!
After suffering a 5-2 Game 1 loss against the Bruins, who benefitted from the blaring backdrop of a sold out TD Garden, Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz called it an 'easy decision' to revert back to his stoic veteran in Varlamov from rookie netminder Ilya Sorokin for Game 2. It also buoyed Trotz's verdict that Varlamov had a track record of success against Boston where he went 5-1-0 and posted a 1.93 GAA, a .943 SV% and a shutout in the regular season.
"We thought maybe we could ride Ilya's momentum [from the Pittsburgh series], it didn't happen in Game 1," Trotz said. "I was pretty comfortable coming back with [Varlamov] in Game 2. That was almost the plan if we didn't get the win in Game 1, that we were coming right back with [Varlamov]. I feel comfortable with either one of the goaltenders. They both did an excellent job."
While going down 2-0 in the seven-game series wouldn't have been the end of the world, the Islanders made it a goal to leave Boston with a split before returning to Nassau Coliseum for Games 3 and 4. Upon receiving the starting nod in Game 2, Varlamov's play matched his easy-going demeanor.
Even after Charlie Coyle put Boston up 1-0 on the first shot of the game 2:38 after puck drop - with a power move to beat Nick Leddy one-on-one - Varlamov was unfazed. The 33-year-old Russian denied an onslaught of chances in Boston's first-period push which featured a 15-6 shot advantage.
In doing so, the Islanders responded with their best period of the postseason in the second where they scored three goals, including two on the power play.

Even then, Varlamov came through in that period with a timely save when the Islanders had taken a 2-1 lead. As Boston's second line went to work, the fivesome strung some succinct and smooth passing to dismantle the Islanders' defense. With a promising feed out to Krejci all alone on the backdoor, Varlamov slid across just in time.
While the eventual win was a total team effort and emphasized the Islanders' 'no quit' mentality, the performance from Varlamov in a bounce-back game of his own provided a much-needed boost.
Now, the Islanders look to capitalize on their confidence - and continued confidence with having a luxury of two capable goaltenders - as they aim to take their first series lead with Games 3 and 4 in their own energetic building.
"He's a veteran, he's not scared of these moments," Trotz said. "He's been a rock for us all year."