Islanders activate Semyon Varlamov from IR after Ilya Sorokin marathon

A rest may finally be in store for Ilya Sorokin.

The Islanders activated backup netminder Semyon Varlamov off injured reserve Monday, sending Ken Appleby to AHL Bridgeport in a corresponding move, restoring order in net after Sorokin had played in 14 straight games.

Hes been playing a lot lately, new coach Patrick Roy said of Sorokin after he made 41 saves in an overtime win over the Stars on Sunday. I think its gonna be good when Varlys back and gives him a bit of a rest, but he was very solid.

A year after he played in 62 games, Sorokins workload has been nothing short of massive.

Hes faced more shots than any goaltender in the league (1,175) and played behind a defense that has bled high-danger looks all year.

He has faced more than 40 shots in a game nine different times.

In correspondence with that, his numbers have dropped off from Vezina Trophy contention last year to something approaching normal this season a .910 save percentage and 3.17 goals against average.

Semyon Varlamov returns to the Islanders after being out since leaving Jan. 2 with an injury. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTGetting Varlamov back after the netminder played just two games over the last month with a lower-body injury the last being on Jan. 2 in Colorado when he exited 14:52 into the match will be massive in reducing Sorokins workload.

The only action the Isles were comfortable giving Appleby came in the third period of a 5-0 loss in Minnesota, with the game already a lost cause by the time he came in.

The next night in Winnipeg, there was Sorokin facing 43 shots in a loss.

Ilya Sorokin is due a break after playing in 14 straight games. Robert Sabo for NY PostIt remains to be seen how Roy will rotate Sorokin and Varlamov in net.

But as a four-time Cup winner and Hall of Fame goaltender himself, it figures that he should have a good sense for what each of them can handle.