The Islanders are rolling out the same lineup Thursday night, but the spotlight belongs to the man in net.
New York hosts the Los Angeles Kings at UBS Arena to close out a brief two-game homestand, and after back-to-back wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks, the Islanders are trying to keep the momentum alive against a Western Conference opponent. The schedule only gets heavier from here, with six straight games against Western Conference teams and eight of the next 12 on the road, making home points especially valuable.
For the Islanders, this is also a notable night for Semyon Varlamov. The veteran backup will make his third start of the season, and the first on home ice since Nov. 25, 2024, against the Detroit Red Wings.
New York lost that game 4-2. His last home win as a starter came more than two years ago, on Oct. 19, 2024, in a shootout against the Montreal Canadiens.
Varlamov’s first two starts this season came on the road, against the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators, as he continued his comeback after missing nearly two years because of partial replacements on both knees. Now he gets another chance in front of the home crowd, and the Islanders are hoping he can help extend their winning streak.
The matchup in goal is favorable on paper. Varlamov comes in with a .905 save percentage and 1.94 goals-against average, while Darcy Kuemper brings in an .869 save percentage and 3.95 goals-against average after the Kings picked up their first win of the season, a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.
Up front and on the back end, the Islanders are sticking with the same group they used against Anaheim. Kyle MacLean and Mitchell Chaffee will again skate on the fourth line with Casey Cizikas after both made encouraging season debuts earlier in the week.
On defense, Matthew Kessel stays in the lineup as the third-pairing right side with Tony DeAngelo. Kessel has two assists through four games and is plus-2, while Scott Mayfield will sit as a healthy scratch.
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Sabres Fans Should Watch This Defense Market Twist Closely
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For the Kings, the name that really sharpens the focus is Drew Doughty. The longtime Los Angeles defenseman is heading toward unrestricted free agency, and there is at least some movement behind the scenes as he now has an agent after previously representing himself. He has also made clear he would like to stay in Los Angeles on a team-friendly deal, while acknowledging the club may ultimately decide to go in a different direction, which is exactly why any trade chatter involving defensemen feels a little more meaningful right now. [Read more 🡒]