Why the Maple Leafs Called Up Erik Kallgren Ahead of Game 1 Against the Lightning
Kallgren was one of two goaltenders on the ice. With Matt Murray still unavailable due to a concussion, the Swedish netminder will serve as the team's third option in goal.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs took the ice for their optional morning skate ahead of Game 1 on Tuesday, Erik Kallgren was one of two goaltenders on the ice.
The Swedish goalie was up by the club from the Toronto Marlies and will serve as the team's third goaltender in the event one is needed.
The Maple Leafs are no stranger to emergency goaltenders, having dressed four different amateur goalies as the club maneuvered around roster and salary-cap issues. But there will be no need for that, now that the salary cap is no longer a part of the equation.
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"I guess there is a new rule or policy in place to have an NHL-contracted goalie on board that's healthy and ready to go as the third guy," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said.
Ilya Samsonov will start in goal for the Maple Leafs when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series on Tuesday. Joseph Woll will back him up.
Matt Murray, who sustained a concussion earlier in the month, is unavailable, so Kallgren was called up in the unlikely event Toronto would have to go to a third option.
"Murray's continuing to progress coming up on a week or so now, he's progress but not at the point where he would qualify as one of those three (goalies).
Kallgren was pressed into duty for the Maple Leafs earlier in the season when Murray, Samsonov and Woll were all recovering from injuries. He posted a 3-2-4 record with an .898 save percentage in 10 games this season.
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