New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov stops the puck during the first period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. AP Sorokin has taken ...

A word here in defense of the Islanders, who have been catching criticism due to their lack of organizational goaltending depth in the wake of Semyon Varlamov’s injury Tuesday night in Colorado.

"He was really good in the game against Colorado, which was his first game ... night when the Islanders host the Detroit Red Wings. Varlamov, who started the first two games of the season and ...