Islanders: Three Takeaways from 2-1 Game Two Loss in Pittsburgh

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Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The New York Islanders struggled out of the gate again in game two of their first-round series against the Penguins, and this time they couldn’t overcome it.

The New York Islanders started slow again in game two of their opening-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite what was a mostly strong start by Semyon Varlamov, the Islanders just couldn’t find the offense needed to overcome their early deficit.

Here are three takeaways from the game two loss.

1. Semyon Varlamov’s Return for the Islanders

Semyon Varlamov returned to the crease for game two, and like the rest of the team he didn’t get off to a great start on Tuesday. Varly was beaten high on his glove side by Bryan Rust in the early minutes of the first period.

A little under ten minutes later, Jeff Carter would make it 2-0 Pittsburgh when he found a loose puck into the slot. Carter carried the puck toward Varly’s glove side and then shot low across his body to beat the Islanders goalie on the blocker side.

However, Varlamov would find his footing as the game went on. He finished game two having stopped 43 of 45 Penguins shots, and saving .21 goals above expected (GSAx).

There was a fair amount of criticism online about Varlamov’s early performance and Barry Trotz’s decision to start Varly over Ilya Sorokin, who started in the Isles’ game one victory on Sunday.

Certainly, the argument could be made that Trotz should’ve started Sorokin due to Varlamov’s absence from game one and the obvious injury that caused that absence. Pittsburgh wasn’t shy about driving hard into Semyon’s crease and ran him over on more than one occasion in game two.

But, I find it hard to see how going back to Varlamov in game two was the wrong call. Sure, the early goal against didn’t help the Islanders find their legs, but the entire team was absent for the first frame. The second Penguins goal was a broken play that resulted in a bad bounce for the Isles, and it wound up in their net.

Varly’s performance strengthened later, and by the final few minutes of action, he had bailed New York out more than once and kept their hopes of tying the game late alive. I find it pretty hard to say he was ultimately what sunk this team in game two.

Mar 29, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; The Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after a goal by right wing Anthony Angello (57) as New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (40) retrieves the puck from the net during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Another Slow Start Dooms the Islanders

Say what you will about Varlamov’s early flub on Bryan Rust’s goal, but the larger problem still remains that the Islanders continue to start games late. The defense was poor. They consistently mishandled pucks and made questionable passes or plays. While the offense did get some opportunities to score, they failed to convert and were kept away from the slot for the most part.

By and large, the Islanders simply found themselves playing Pittsburgh’s style of game in the first period, and on most nights they’re simply not going to be able to win that way.

Natural Stat Trick had each team with over 1 Expected Goal (xG) in the first period. That’s a lot considering the entire frame was played at 5v5, and it’s indicative of a period that was simply too free-flowing and driven by the offenses.

Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock were uncharacteristically burned as a pass snuck behind them and sent Jake Guentzel on a semi-breakaway. Nick Leddy, usually one of the better puck-transporting defensemen on the Islanders roster, was stuffed at his own blue line and gave away possession far too frequently.

Noah Dobson in particular had a very poor game, easily the worst of any Islanders defenseman, and it was never more apparent than in the first period. Dobson turned over possession frequently in attempts to exit his own zone, and in turn, that’s where he played most of his game.

Dobson finished the night as one of the worst Islanders in xGF% (32.61%) and Game Score (-0.47), and that reflects his play on Tuesday pretty well.

Pelech and Pulock, the stalwart backbone pairing of the Islanders blue line, had the two lowest Game Scores of any Islanders skaters.

Game three will tell us a lot about this Islanders team. They need to put these slow starts behind them and start games on time from here on out. With game three being played on their home ice in front of a more packed Nassau Coliseum than they’ve played in since before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down North American pro sports, it’s as good a time as any to start doing that.

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 06: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 06, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3. Islanders Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle still M.I.A.

It should’ve been no secret coming into this first-round series that the Pittsburgh Penguins were going to do everything in their power not to let Mathew Barzal beat them. They have played Barzal suffocatingly tight through the series’ first two matches, and it’s proven to be working thus far.

The Islanders are a team who can rely upon scoring throughout their lineup. After all, they didn’t have a single 20-goal scorer in 2020-21. However, like with any team, if you keep the Islanders top line in check, it makes the workload a lot heavier for the rest of the group.

Pittsburgh are going to force the rest of this Islanders team to beat them. Mathew Barzal and his main wingman, Jordan Eberle, are going to continue getting harassed at every turn. The Penguins realize that is one of the keys to beating the Isles, and they’re executing that game plan to perfection through two games.

Sure, New York won the first game of this best-of-seven, but obviously Penguins coach Mike Sullivan feels much more comfortable giving J-G Pageau’s line space to beat his team than Barzal’s.

That’s the reality of being the guy on your team. John Tavares dealt with it as an Islander. Sidney Crosby deals with it on a regular basis. Every star player is relied upon by his team to face the toughest of tough competition and find ways to make their game work.

To this point, Barzal hasn’t been able to do that. But that’s not to say he won’t. With home ice in games three and four, and more favorable matchups likely to fall his way, Barzal will likely have some more room to work with on Coliseum ice.

It is imperative that he finds ways to make that room count. The Islanders hopes of winning this series and advancing will likely depend on it.

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