Hurricanes recall Scott Darling from AHL conditioning stint

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Scott Darling (33) defends the net. (Gerry Broome/AP)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Scott Darling is back with the big club.

Darling missed the start of the season with a lower-body injury, and was sent down to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on Monday for a conditioning stint.

He made 25 saves in a 3-1 win with the Checkers on Wednesday, and was recalled by the Hurricanes on Thursday.

The 29-year-old has been something of a late bloomer in his career, losing his spot at the Univeristy of Maine due to excessive drinking and partying in 2010.

Several years spent bouncing around the lower minors eventually led to a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 6-foot-6 netminder parlayed several successful seasons in Chicago as a backup to Corey Crawford into a four-year, $16.6-million contract with Carolina in May of 2017, with the intention of being the starter in Carolina.

His first season with the Hurricanes was a disaster however, posting a disappointing .888 save percentage in 43 games.

The team signed goaltender Petr Mrazek to a one-year contract this past summer as insurance, and claimed Curtis McElhinney off of waivers when Darling got hurt ahead of the season.

With no announced corresponding roster move, it would appear the club is currently carrying three goalies on its NHL roster.

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