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

Semyon Varlamov will make his first regular-season start for the New York Islanders since November 29, 2024, when they face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The start marks the end of a 676-day absence from the net for Varlamov, who holds a 5-1-0 record and four shutouts at MSG as an Islander.

Varlamov faces an Igor Shesterkin-led Rangers squad that has won three straight games. The Islanders enter the matchup following a 6-0 shutout against New Jersey, in which Ilya Sorokin made 37 saves and rookie Victor Eklund scored his first NHL goal. Head coach Pete DeBoer noted the Rangers will need to improve despite their recent form.