That came in the middle of Varlamov's six-game losing streak, a stretch where he was playing well, but not getting the accompanying results. That stretch crested on Mar. 7 vs Colorado, a game where Varlamov had 33 saves on 34 shots through two periods to keep the Isles in a 1-1 game. The dam broke in the third period eventually leading to a 5-4 scoreline that undersold how long Varlamov kept the team in the game. Varlamov still made a season-high 44 saves in the loss.
"That consistency that he got wasn't what he deserved," Lee said. "He clearly handled it with grace and as a true professional to just keep sticking with it and keep working and not getting discouraged. And as a teammate and guy in the room, you'd never notice anything that difficult that he's going through. He just he just kept working and this is a culmination of all of that and he's getting recognized and rewarded for it and as a team, so are we with his great play."
Things have turned for Varlamov since the Colorado game. In addition to winning six of his last eight decisions, Varlamov has pitched two shutouts, a 24-save effort against the Ottawa Senators and his clean sheet vs the Rangers. He stopped 42 shots in a 4-3 win over Columbus on March 29 and even in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals, still managed to get the Islanders into the eighth round of the shootout.
Varlamov's .930 SV% since March 11 ranks fifth in NHL - among goalies with five-or-more games - while his two shutouts are tied with Colorado's Darcy Kuemper for first.
"Varly didn't know about record that he set with the Rangers. He was just worrying about the team and playing well and preparing and giving a chance," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "These guys take a lot of pride that they can be the difference makers… if you can be a number one goaltender, and both of I feel are that, that you in fact you've done something pretty special."
