The New York Islanders are getting some very bad news at a very bad time. Head coach Jack Capuano announced Wednesday that starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak is set to miss at least six weeks with a lower body injury.
Halak suffered the injury stopping a shot from Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley during Tuesday’s win over the Pens.
With Halak out until at least the end of the season it will put the brewing goaltender controversy in Brooklyn to bed. Thomas Greiss will take the reins.
Greiss’s .930 save percentage in 29 games leads the NHL in the category. Halak has been solid with a .919, but Capuano has been reticent to put complete faith in Greiss, who has already set a personal career-high with 26 starts.
The Islanders currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division and have a six point head start on the eighth place Detroit Red Wings. Greiss has one more year left on his contract and will have the opportunity to prove he can be a starting NHL goaltender by leading the Isles to the postseason in their inaugural Brooklyn season.
Backing up Greiss will likely by J.F. Berube, who the Islanders acquired via waiver claim over the offseason.
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Featured photo by Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers.
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Dustin Nelson is the News Editor for The Hockey Writers. He’s a contributor to Hockey Prospectus, Hockey Wilderness, and writes a column for Rotowire. He’s also written for Gone Puck Wild, Wild Xtra, InDigest, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, Tiny Mix Tapes, Prefix Magazine & other publications. Have a tip? Email him at dlukenelson[at]gmail[dot]com.
