TAMPA, Fla. – Semyon Varlamov would be the Islanders’ MVP if president and general manager Lou Lamoriello allowed such individual awards.
The goalie certainly showed why even as the Islanders’ thrilling playoff run came to an unsatisfying conclusion with a 1-0 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning in Game 7 of their NHL semifinal series on Friday night at Amalie Arena.
Varlamov made 30 saves – 15 in the first period – as the Lightning continually hemmed the Islanders in their own zone. Yanni Gourde’s shorthander at 1:49 of the second period was the lone goal and this became the first Game 7 in NHL history to end 1-0 on a shorthanded goal.