Varlamov gets second straight shutout, Islanders defeat Bruins

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves in his second straight shutout for the New York Islanders, a 1-0 win against the Boston Bruins at Nassau Coliseum on Monday.

Varlamov is the first goalie in Islanders history to get a shutout in each of his first two games, and the 14th in NHL history; he opened the season by making 24 saves in a 4-0 win at the New York Rangers on Thursday, then was unable to play against them two nights later after being injured during warmups. The Rangers won 5-0.
"I felt fine [Sunday] morning," Varlamov said. "I skated yesterday and I felt pretty good after practice. … I felt pretty good today.
"I can tell you that's the best result after two games I've ever had. I never got back-to-back shutouts in the beginning of a season. I've had some seasons where I felt great, but the outcome was different. I'm glad it happened this way, so I'm pretty happy about the result."
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Islanders (2-1-0) with 4:09 left in the third period. He swatted a rebound of Adam Pelech's slap shot past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask for New York's first goal in 140:57.
It was the Islanders' first home win against the Bruins since Nov. 2, 2013, a span of 11 games (1-9-1).
"Obviously, it was nice to score that goal," Pageau said. "It was a great play by 'Pelly' getting the puck to the net. … It was a great effort the whole game. I thought we played an OK first period, then we came back in the second and in the third we showed a lot of character. We played playoff hockey and we stuck with it, and that's why we came out on top."

Rask made 16 saves for the Bruins (1-1-1), who have yet to score a 5-on-5 goal in three games this season. David Krejci hit the crossbar with a wrist shot from the slot at 15:32 of the first period.
"We're obviously focused on it, it's obviously what everyone wants to talk about, is production 5-on-5," Boston forward Jake DeBrusk said. "It's one of those things that we're very aware of. But at the same time, we have confidence in our group. I think we're really stacked up front.
"Obviously with no preseason you can pretty much use any excuse you want, but we know what we need to do. It's just a matter of going out and executing. It sounds easier than what it is obviously, but we have faith in this room. It just obviously stings when you lose 1-0 on the first road trip of the year."
Varlamov kept it tied when he slid across his crease to make a save on Nick Ritchie's one-timer from the right circle at 18:48 of the second. His shutout streak of 120 minutes to start a season bests the previous Islanders record, set by Rick DiPietro in 2003-04 (115:35).
"I just think he's really calm," New York coach Barry Trotz said of Varlamov. "I think that's the No. 1 thing is he's really calm. You look around the League, when goalies are playing really well what you'll find is there's a calmness to them. It's no different than probably a baseball hitter seeing the ball; it's coming in fairly big to them and seeing it in slow motion.

"He was a big reason that we get a win tonight. Early, I thought he made some really good saves against a very good hockey team. He just calmed our game. He gave us a chance."
Mathew Barzal nearly scored a power-play goal for New York at 1:37 of the third period, but his one-timer from the slot hit the crossbar.
Rask made a pad save against Anthony Beauvillier on a breakaway at 9:31 of the third.
"Big picture, you know you're doing a good job defending when those are the goals that's going in," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "On the flip side, no consolation to lose a game like that when you feel like you were the better team."
NOTES: Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk left the game at 5:43 of the third period after being tangled up along the boards with Islanders forward Jordan Eberle. Cassidy did not have an update. … Boston forward Ondrej Kase did not play because of an upper-body injury. He was replaced by Jack Studnicka, who had no shots and one blocked shot in 13:52 of ice time. … The Bruins will play their home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. … Varlamov joined Glenn "Chico" Resch (1976-77) as the only Islanders goalies with shutouts in two of their first three games to start a season.