Semyon Varlamov injury update: Islanders goalie leaves Game 2 after collision with Brayden Point

The Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov was pulled from Game 2 on Tuesday night after a nasty collision with Brayden Point.

With just under seven minutes left in the first period, the Lightning forward was driving to the net when he took a pass that he tried to pull between his legs. As the puck sailed away, he was pushed from behind by Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech and went flying into Varlamov. 

Varlamov was seen immediately grabbing his head and stayed down holding his head for a considerable amount of time as the teams got together around him. The goaltender then left the ice and was replaced by rookie Ilya Sorokin. Point got two minutes on a questionable call for goaltender interference; however, there wasn’t much he could do on the play thanks to the push from Pelech. Point, who scored the Lightning’s opening goal, was seen saying to someone on the ice to watch the play on the jumbotron and Jon Cooper was up on the bench yelling at the referees.

Islanders forward Brock Nelson scored on the ensuing power play to tie the game at 1-1.

Losing Varlamov is not great news for the Islanders but Sorokin has been solid for Barry Trotz’s crew this year. The 25-year-old netminder started five playoff games (Games 1, 4-6 against the Penguins and Game 1 versus Boston) and compiled a 4-1 record with a .934 save percentage. Varlamov, who entered Game 2 against the Lightning with a .930 save percentage, had started the last six games.