The Dallas Stars announced that they have recalled goaltender Anders Lindback from the AHL and in turn have sent Jussi Rynnas back down to the Texas Stars.
Lindback was sent to the AHL earlier this week with the goal of getting the backup goaltender some playing time, with Kari Lehtonen getting the majority of the starts recently and apparently prepared to play significantly down the stretch. However, Lehtonen has played poorly in each of the two games this week — both losses for the Stars — and there is a good chance that Lindback could indeed get a chance to prove he deserves more playing time.
In two games this week with Texas, both against the San Antonio Rampage, Lindback allowed four goals on 70 shots for a 1.89 GAA and .946 save percentage. In seven games this season with Texas, Lindback is 4-2-1 with a 1.68 GAA and .946 save percentage and has played rather well overall this season at that level.
Lindy Ruff has gone on record as saying that in a back-to-back situation, he’s focused on winning the first game above all else. It’s why the backup has routinely played that second game, and Ruff stated today that Lindback will play in one of these games this weekend.
With the Stars heading to Buffalo to play the worst team in the NHL, and then headed to New York to face the Rangers — it’s going to be interesting to see how the goalies are used. Does Lindback get the start in Buffalo, and then play again on Sunday depending on how he plays? Does Ruff go with Lehtonen again, despite his statements last night on how the goaltender basically let the team down?
This weekend could be interesting between the pipes.
Press release below:
FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has recalled goaltender Anders Lindback from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars, Dallas’ development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). The club has also reassigned goaltender Jussi Rynnas to Texas.
Lindback, 26, has a 2-7-0 record with an .875 save percentage and a 3.79 goals against average in nine appearances with Dallas in 2014-15. The Gavle, Sweden native has appeared in seven games with Texas this season, posting a 4-2-1 record with a 1.68 goals against average and a .946 save percentage.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound goaltender was originally selected by Nashville in the seventh round (207th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft and was signed by Dallas as a free agent on July 1, 2014.
Rynnas, 27, has appeared in two contests with Dallas this season, posting an 0-1-0 record with a .841 save percentage and a 4.57 goals against average. The goaltender owns a 13-3-6 record with a 2.68 goals against average and a .915 save percentage in 24 appearances with Texas in the 2014-15 campaign.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound native of Pori, Finland was signed by Dallas as a free agent on July 7. 2014.