Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov is getting his chances in goal during playoff run

Semyon Varlamov was back in net on Saturday night against the Predators at UBS Arena after Ilya Sorokin started  and won  the Islanders’ previous two matches.

The Islanders have no back-to-backs left in their schedule with  two days off before hosting the Rangers on Tuesday night and then single days between each of their final four games.  So coach Patrick Roy really is free to start the hot goalie.

“We’re going to go game by game and we’re going to go from there,” Roy said. “It’s hard to project who’s going to play the next one. Ilya played really well against Chicago and Columbus. Varly played really well on that road trip, the Panthers, the Lightning and Philly. We have two goaltenders that are playing very well. So, we’re lucky to be in that position and we’re certainly going to use it.”

Praise for Cal

Cal Clutterbuck’s nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, dedication and sportsmanship, as voted upon by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, was received well by the Islanders.

“That’s great,” longtime linemate Matt Martin said. “He’s played a long time. A lot of injuries. Plays the game hard. He’s definitely deserving of the nomination. He does a little bit of everything for us. He’s a big part of the success we’ve had over the years.”

Said Roy, “He’s a very good vet. We don’t hesitate to ask his opinions on things. He brings a lot to our team.”

Isles files

The Islanders entered Saturday’s match in an 0-8-2 skid against the Predators dating to Feb. 5, 2018, with their last win in the series coming on Oct. 28, 2017. The Islanders’ last home win against the Predators came on Oct. 15, 2015 at Barclays Center . . .Forwards Hudson Fasching and Oliver Wahlstrom and defensemen Samuel Bolduc and Sebastian Aho remained healthy scratches.