NY Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov allows 6 goals but Pete DeBoer saw what he needed

Semyon Varlamov allowed six goals on 27 shots Friday night, but New York Islanders coach Pete DeBoer saw enough from the veteran goaltender to feel comfortable with his progress toward the regular season.

Varlamov played the entire game in the Islanders' 6-1 preseason loss to the New York Rangers, continuing his return following two partial knee replacement surgeries.

The 38-year-old faced extended stretches of pressure despite the Rangers finishing with 27 shots. DeBoer said he spoke with Varlamov after the second period and offered him the opportunity to leave the game.

Varlamov wanted to stay in.

"I don't care about the score," DeBoer said. "I actually talked to him at the end of the second. I gave him the option if he wanted to come out and take a break."

DeBoer said the decision was based more on the workload Varlamov faced than the number of shots or goals allowed.

"The shot clock wasn't that high, but there was a lot of zone time, a lot of quality, like some hard minutes there," DeBoer said. "But he wanted to finish. He wanted the whole game."

Varlamov's health has been one of the Islanders' primary questions during training camp after he missed significant time while recovering from knee surgery.

He returned to game action earlier in the preseason against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden and has continued increasing his workload as the season approaches.

Friday provided his most demanding test yet.

"A lot of guys would have taken that exit ramp and got out of there, and he didn't," DeBoer said.

The six goals were not the result Varlamov or the Islanders wanted.

For DeBoer, however, the willingness to remain in the game and work through a difficult night provided another indication that Varlamov is physically prepared for the regular season.

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