Tsyplakov Chat CHICAGO -- According to the NHL media site, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] have placed goaltender Semyon Varlamov on injured reserve and recalled forward Pierre Engvall from Bridgeport ahead of their game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Varlamov has not skated since the team's 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 29, so an IR stint made sense. The media site does not differentiate between IR (roster spot) and LTIR ($2.75 in cap relief and roster spot). If Varlamov is on LTIR, he will have to miss 10 games AND 24 days, dating back to Nov. 29, which means he isn't eligible to return unit Dec. 24. Per PuckPedia [https://puckpedia.com/team/new-york-islanders], which does differentiate, they have Varlamov on just IR, which means all he has to miss to return is seven days. He's done that. Starting netminder Ilya Sorokin will make his eighth straight start on Sunday and is likely to start all the games in Varlamov's absence, with Marcus Hogberg serving as the backup. Engvall, who cleared waivers on Saturday, is back up, likely due to Bo Horvat's and Anthony Duclair's statuses. Horvat suffered a lower-body injury in the 5-4 win against the Blackhawks on Thursday night. He is day-to-day but did make the trip. However, with Anthony Duclair (lower body) not ready to return just yet, the Islanders would have been forced into an 11-forward, seven-defenseman situation had they not recalled a forward. We will see what the lineup looks like during warmups.
