New York Islanders at Colorado Avalanche [Game 59 thread]

Semyon Varlamov gets the start against his old teammates as the New York Islanders try to break a three-game losing streak and salvage something from the final game of what has been a brutal four-game Western trip.

The Islanders are coming off a much better effort in Arizona — where they finally logged a goal after getting shutout twice in a row — but they still have zero points to show for the trip.

If you were frightened yesterday by Ryan Pulock taking a maintenance day, he’s good to go tonight. Ross Johnston was on for extra work at the morning skate, so expect Kieffer Bellows and Michael Dal Colle to have spots in tonight’s lineup.

Like the Islanders, the Avalanche are dealing with several injuries, and arguably of greater impact, with Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri, and Varlamov’s former creasemate and fellow ex-Capital Philipp Grubauer out.

They’re also winless in three, though they made it to overtime last time out vs. the Lightning. Catch more Avalanche coverage at Mile High Hockey.

As Eric Hornick pointed out, Friday night’s jersey retirement honoree, John Tonelli, had a really big goal in the last minute 38 years ago tomorrow. If they ever had a Tonelli statue, it would have to be with him in mid-goal celebration, all four limbs bent: