It looks like the New York Islanders will carry three goalies for the remainder of the NHL season.
In a move to shore up their goaltending while chasing a wild card berth in the Eastern Conference, the team announced Thursday morning it has recalled veteran Jaroslav Halak from the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
According to Arthur Staple of Newsday, backup Jean-Francois Berube is expected to remain in the NHL because the Islanders did not have him on their AHL eligibility list submitted on March 1. Berube would have to clear waivers if the Islanders wanted to ship him to the AHL.
Berube has only started two games since stopping 27 of 28 shots in a win over Colorado on Feb. 12. He allowed four goals in those starts and has also relieved Thomas Greiss four times during that span.
Halak posted a 17-7-3 record with a .925 save percentage in Bridgeport after being sent down on Dec. 31. The demotion came weeks after Halak’s agent Allan Walsh criticized the Islanders’ three-goalie system on Twitter. Halak was 6-8-5 with a 3.23 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in 20 appearances with the Islanders earlier this season.
The Islanders beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Wednesday and are two points behind the Boston Bruins for the last playoff spot. The Isles have a game in hand.
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