So it's no surprise that he's keeping his starting goaltender a secret. The Isles, of course, play the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of their second-round series tonight evening, and Trotz had a little fun with the Boston reporters when asked who would start in goal for his club.
For those who don't get the joke the Isles' two goaltenders are Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Samsonov, both left catching Russian goalies. One thing we know for certain though: Billy Smith won't be getting the start for the Isles this evening...
In Game 1, the 25-year-old Sorokin started and allowed four goals on 39 shots. Even though Varlamov outperformed him throughout the regular season, he has started the bulk of the Isles' playoff games. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Varlamov didn't start.
Trotz can't go wrong with either goaltender, but the consistency that comes with having a dependable veteran in net could be the difference in getting the Isles into this series. Varlamov is a criminally underappreciated goaltender who can steal a game as good as anyone in the NHL.
Again, Sorokin is excellent, but with Varlamov's experience, I believe he is the best bet to lead the Isles to victory.
