New York Islanders activate goaltender Semyon Varlamov off injured reserve

A veteran netminder is set to return on Long Island.

On Monday, the New York Islanders activated goaltender Semyon Varlamov off injured reserve. They also sent netminder Ken Appleby back down to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders.

Varlamov has been out of the lineup for almost three weeks nursing a lower-body injury, and was placed on IR a couple of weeks ago. Appleby made just one appearance with the Isles, as Ilya Sorokin has started the last nine games.

Appleby gave up two goals on eight shots in relief of Sorokin during the team’s 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 15.

Varlamov last played on Jan. 2, where he looked to have aggravated something during a game against the Colorado Avalanche, and had to leave the contest prematurely.

Varlamov is 6-4-2 this season with a 2.78 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and two shutouts.

The Russian-born netminder has been fairly healthy since coming over from the Avalanche in 2019. Only missing a couple of games last season with a lower-body injury, just missing a short amount of time due to illness during the 2021-22 campaign.

Varlamov returns to the team with a new, but familiar man in charge – at least to Varlamov. Patrick Roy took over the head coaching job after Lane Lambert was fired on Saturday, picking up a win his debut on Sunday against the Dallas Stars.

Roy coached Varlamov for three seasons while the two were with the Avalanche.

The Islanders (20-15-11) are currently fourth in the Metropolitan Division, four points back of the third-place Carolina Hurricanes, and nine behind the New York Rangers for first. They are also two points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Isles are set to host the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.