New York Islanders
Semyon Varlamov Will Not Play This Weekend; Cory Schneider Possibly Starts vs. Vegas
Semyon Varlamov will not be making an appearance for the New York Islanders this weekend. Instead, Ilya Sorokin will make his fifth start of the season on Saturday in Arizona and then head Barry Trotz will decide what to do for Sunday’s matchup with Vegas.
The Islanders head coach left the door open for Cory Schneider to make his first start as a member of the Islanders.
Saturday and Sunday mark the first set of back-to-backs the Islanders will play, first taking on the Arizona Coyotes and then the Vegas Golden Knights the following night. There had been some hope that Varlamov could have been ready to play in one of the weekend games.
“I haven’t made a decision (for Sunday) We’ll see how this game goes. Corey may go in Vegas,” Trotz said.
If Schneider gets into Sunday’s game it would be his first NHL start since March 6, 2020 for the New Jersey Devils. Schneider made 31 saves that game and had an assist in a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues.
Semyon Varlamov had been skating this week and was scheduled to get ice time on Friday. He practiced with the Islanders in Arizona on Friday, along with Schneider and Ilya Sorokin.
What has been described as “soreness” had sidelined Semyon Varlamov for training camp and for the first four games of the season. The Russian netminder is considered day-to-day still by New York now that he has been skating with the team.
The Islanders have a five day break before their next game after they face Vegas on Sunday night. That could provide enough time for Varlamov to work his back to 100 percent and rejoin the team off the IR.
Sorokin has served as the Islanders starter in Varlamov’s absence and has 3.50 goals against average and a .901 save percentage.