NYHN Daily: Varlamov Shutout Streak Finished, Islanders Playoff Plans

The Islanders blew a two-goal lead Monday night as they come up short on a big two points against the Buffalo Sabres. Netminder Semyon Varlamov sees his shutout streak come to an end. This story and more in today’s daily links!

Semyon Varlamov had his historic shutout streak come to an end in upstate New York on Monday night. Tage Thompson, the son of Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach Brent Thompson, ended Varlamov’s run at 248 minutes. The streak was the 12 longest in NHL history. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders are built for playoff success, and the Barry Trotz team-first mentality could take them a long way. But, first, they need to use the time allotted over the next two weeks to solve many issues that have cropped up in their game and threaten to derail a promising year. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders are playoff-bound and still vying for home-ice advantage. With nothing left on the line this season, the young Sabres are auditioning for 2021-22. This deep into a season, those often are the toughest teams to face writes Andrew Gross. (Newsday)

Semyon Varlamov was named the NHL’s third star of the week on Monday after the Islanders goalie had back-to-back shutouts and set the team record for longest shutout streak. (Newsday)

At this point, the Boston Bruins have been operating at their highest level for nearly a month and have officially clinched their Stanley Cup playoff spot.

The B’s punched their ticket with a solid, no-frills 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Monday night at the Prudential Center and have passed the New York Islanders for the third spot in the East Division.
(Boston Hockey Now)

It was probably inevitable. The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff berth on Saturday after four hard-fought and three hard-won games against Stanley Cup contenders, the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins. Then they got killed by the Philadelphia Flyers. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Flyers entered Monday night’s game on a three-game losing streak. They were at a loss for words after a few pitiful performances against the Devils. This game against the Penguins may get them talking. (Philly Hockey Now)

When Jonathan Huberdeau and Owen Tippett took off moments after Spencer Knight made a big save this early in the Panthers game Monday night against the Dallas Stars, we all probably should have buckled in for a wild night of hockey. (Florida Hockey Now)

The Minnesota Wild scored three unanswered goals on Robin Lehner in the third period to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 6-5 on Monday night. Vegas appeared to be in the driver’s seat after 40 minutes of play, leading 5-3 in a back-and-forth game. But the entire game was one where no one could rest easy and the Wild came charging back with three goals in the final half of the period, including two goals 26 seconds apart in the final two minutes. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Monday afternoon, Colorado Avalanche goalie Devan Dubnyk was placed on the NHL’s Covid protocol list. It is unknown if Dubnyk tested positive for the virus or whether it’s a contact tracing thing. He is one of three NHL players currently on the list, and the only Av. (Colorado Hockey Now)

San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner, as he has been so often this season, was refreshingly candid in his post-game availability tonight. His team lost 5-4 in overtime which eliminated San Jose from the playoffs for the second consecutive season. (San Jose Hockey Now)

Cole Caufield scored in overtime for the second straight game, and the Montreal Canadiens gained ground in the Scotia North Division race with a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bell Centre on Monday. (NHL)