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Semyon Varlamov set to return to NHL action as NY Islanders visit Rangers at MSG

ByJiggs Westfall
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Sep 24, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) tries to deflect a shot while in between New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) and New York Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov (40) during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Sep 24, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) tries to deflect a shot while in between New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) and New York Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov (40) during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The New York Islanders head to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night looking to build off their best performance of the young season, but the biggest story will be the man standing in their crease.

Semyon Varlamov will make his first regular-season start since Nov. 29, 2024, completing a 676-day road back to the Islanders' net. And there might not be a better place for his return. Varlamov is 5-1-0 in six starts as an Islander at Madison Square Garden with a 1.55 goals-against average, .950 save percentage and four shutouts.

He'll face an Igor Shesterkin-led Rangers team that has won three straight since dropping its opener. The Rangers are 3-1-0 and have outscored opponents 11-3 during their winning streak, meaning Pete DeBoer isn't putting much stock into what happened in this rivalry last season.

The Islanders swept all four meetings, outscoring the Rangers 14-3.

"Good on the Islanders last year. That's quite an accomplishment," DeBoer said. "They're playing at a very high level right now, and we're coming off a good performance, but we're going to have to be better."

That good performance was Saturday's 6-0 home-opening win over New Jersey. Six Islanders scored, Ilya Sorokin stopped 37 shots and rookie Victor Eklund celebrated his 20th birthday with his first NHL goal and an assist.

Eklund will remain alongside Cal Ritchie and Brayden Schenn as the Islanders roll out the same forward combinations used at Monday's practice. Eklund has three points through his first three NHL games.

For the Islanders, Tuesday offers an early opportunity to see if Saturday was something they can build upon. It's also Rangers-Islanders at the Garden, where momentum usually matters considerably less once the puck drops.

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