NY Islanders G Semyon Varlamov gets his moment after two year grind

There are wins, and then there are wins that mean a little more. For New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov, Tuesday night's 4-3 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators was certainly the latter.

It had been nearly two years since the 38-year-old last celebrated an NHL victory. November 14, 2024, to be exact. In between came partial replacements of both knees, countless hours of rehabilitation, and moments when Varlamov wondered whether he'd ever play in the NHL again.

There were times when even he wasn't sure the comeback was possible.

"Last two years was a real grind," Varlamov admitted afterward. "I went through some tough times, like when I thought I won't be able to be back."

But he kept going. Another workout. Another practice. Another day trying to get back to the game he loves.

"You just keep pushing yourself every day a little bit harder," he said.

And Tuesday night, with 20 saves and a little help from Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat in the shootout, that persistence finally paid off.

What makes Varlamov's story particularly touching isn't just the comeback. It's his appreciation for simply being an NHL player again.

"I love the game and I wanted to stay in this league longer," he said. "Because when it's over, it's over. You're not part of this league anymore."

For someone who has spent nearly two decades in the NHL, those words carry some weight.

Varlamov also expressed gratitude toward the Islanders organization for giving him another opportunity.

"I'm just humbled and very, very thankful," he said.

At 38, Varlamov knows there are fewer chapters ahead than behind him. But Tuesday night in Nashville proved there's still a little more of his story left to write.

And this chapter was worth the wait.

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