New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29), left, is congratulated by left wing Pierre Engvall, right, after scoring in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Semyon Varlamov thought all day about facing former teammate Alex Ovechkin and trying to keep the player with the second-most goals in NHL history off the score sheet.
Varlamov did just that, stopping Ovechkin and the rest of the Washington Capitals on all 32 shots he faced to help the New York Islanders to a 3-0 victory Thursday night. Casually calling Ovechkin “the best player in the world” after turning aside three of his fellow Russian’s shots, Varlamov picked up his second shutout of the season and 22nd of his career.
“He’s already scored a few on me, and then every time he’s scoring he gets very pumped about it,” Varlamov said with a chuckle. “What can I say? Of course it’s nice to not give up the goals from him.”
Varlamov, a 2006 first-round pick of the Capitals, got plenty of support at the other end as Ryan Pulock, Simon Holmstrom and Brock Nelson scored three goals on the Islanders’ first five shots. New York won despite being outshot 32-21.
“We weren’t great, for sure,” said Pulock, whose goal on the first shot 22 seconds in sparked the Islanders’ third win in four games. “Sometimes nights are going to be a little ugly, and you’ve got to find a way to get the job done.”
The Islanders welcomed back defenseman Scott Mayfield for his first game since the season opener after missing the past seven with a lower-body injury. But they went down a player on their blue line midway through the first period when Adam Pelech left holding his left side/back after a collision with Aliaksei Protas.
Pelech did not return. Coach Lane Lambert had no update on Pelech’s status after the game.
Washington’s Darcy Kuemper allowed goals on the first two…
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