Arizona Coyotes recall Hunter Miska after Antti Raanta injury
By James Reeve
The Arizona Coyotes have recalled goaltender Hunter Miska from the AHL on an emergency basis after Antti Raanta suffered an injury in training.
The Coyotes’ starting goalie left practice Tuesday after suffering a lower-body injury that has seen him placed on the injured reserve list as day-to-day.
Raanta has been in excellent form for the Coyotes this season, registering just 2.10 goals against on average and posting a stellar .929 save percentage – earning a 5-4-0 record for the team, with the Coyotes now sitting at 7-6-0 overall.
OFFICIAL: #Coyotes Recall @miska_35 from @RoadrunnersAHL on Emergency Basis | @ARaanta31 is day-to-day with a lower-body injury ... https://t.co/sEK2D9sdk4
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) November 7, 2018
Backup Darcy Kuemper will need to step up after allowing five goals against the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week, with the two teams set to face each other again tonight.
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But Raanta’s injury has allowed Tucson Roadrunners goalie Miska an opportunity to practice with the NHL club while waiting for the big Finn to return to fitness.
Miska was signed by the Arizona Coyotes organisation after a strong single season in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, leading the team to the NCHC Championship in 2016/17.
After turning pro, Miska spent last season in the AHL with the Roadrunners, playing 36 regular season games with a goal against average of 2.63 and a save percentage of .901 – solid numbers for a rookie goaltender.
Miska has played seven regular season games for the Roadrunners this season, helping them to second place in the Pacific Division.
He has registered the same save percentage as his rookie year while allowing 3.11 goals against on average.
The 23-year-old Minnesotan goalie is unlikely to see the ice with the Coyotes, with Raanta’s injury hopefully not lasting too long, with a day-to-day status seen as a positive for a goaltender that played just 47 games last season.
The brief spell with the Coyotes will be a benefit for Miska’s development and will give him a glimpse of what he is aspiring to achieve in his young career.
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What do you think Coyotes fans? Will Raanta return quickly? Will Miska play a single minute in a Coyotes jersey during this brief emergency spell? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!