Semyon Varlamov skated Friday and practiced Saturday, so he probably could have started Game 1 of the Islanders’ first-round playoff series against the Penguins on Sunday.
But Islanders coach Barry Trotz decided it made more sense to play Ilya Sorokin.
"We had to make a decision [Saturday] night,’’ Trotz said. "And we just thought long-term . . . that’s one thing that we think we have is two capable goalies. And if we want to have any success, we’re going to need both of them. And so we said . . . ‘Let’s sort of do what’s right.