Jonas Johansson was absent from practice on Thursday, which was initially classified as "body maintenance," but may actually be something that could keep him out of the lineup, as indicated by the recalling of Brandon Halverson from the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). The 29-year-old Halverson has a 2.42 GAA and .899 SV% in 20 games (12-6-2) with Syracuse this season.
Halverson has been with the Tampa Bay the past two weeks, but his reassignment to Syracuse (AHL) is an indication that Andrei Vasilevskiy could be nearing a return from injury. The 29-year-old Halverson has only played two NHL games in his career. He has a 2.58 GAA and .901 SV% in 13 games (9-4-0) with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) this season.
Halverson was recalled by Tampa Bay on Thursday morning, indicating there could be an injury concern with one of their two netminders. The 29-year-old Halverson has only played two NHL games in his career. He has a 2.58 GAA and .901 SV% in 13 games (9-4-0) with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) this season.
Halverson played his first NHL game in nearly a decade last week and posted an ugly 5.18 GAA and .792 SV%. The 28-year-old goalie will return to the Syracuse Crunch (AHL), where he has a 2.32 GAA and .913 SV% in 34 games (16-9-8).
Halverson was the 59th overall pick of the New York Rangers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft but has only played one career NHL game back in 2017-18 with the Rangers. The 28-year-old goalie has been impressive at the AHL level this season, posting a 2.20 GAA and .918 SV% in 26 games (12-7-7).
With Alexandar Georgiev expected to be out with the flu, Halverson has been called up to back up Henrik Lundqvist in Ottawa tomorrow.
Halverson was brought up to be Antti Raanta’s backup on Thursday, but his return to the ECHL suggests that Henrik Lundqvist will be ready to go on Sunday or Monday.
Halverson, 20, was a second round pick (No.59 overall) in 2014 and turned pro this season after spending three years with Sault Ste. Marie (OHL). Halverson has gone 9-14-0 with a 3.40 GAA and .886 SV% in 24 games with Hartford (AHL) and 3-1-0 with a 1.70 GAA and .943 SV% in four games with the Swamp Rabbits. He will serve as Antti Raanta’s backup with Henrik Lundqvist (lower-body) day-to-day.
