The Jets have entered must-win territory in their first round series with the Golden Knights after dropping game 4 last night and finding themselves down 3-1 to Vegas.
Ahead of the game the team announced that they had recalled Moose goalie Arvid Holm. Turns out that Winnipeg backup goalie David Rittich was dealing with a “lower-body thing” according to head coach Rick Bowness but that they expected Rittich to back-up Hellebuyck on Thursday in game 5.
So they used Holm as a backup to Hellebucyk in the game on Monday night. A good opportunity for the Jets 2017 6th rounder to experience his first Whiteout in the NHL.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
The thought was that Winnipeg would return Holm to Manitoba today before they jetted off to Vegas. They already have Moose goalie Oskari Salminen as the third goalie to spell off Hellebuyck from practice if needed. However today at the media availability they held at the airport, head coach Rick Bownes as per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press indicated that they will be taking Holm along with Salminen, Rittich and Hellebuyck to Nevada.
Of course all these goalies up with the NHL club of Winnipeg means the AHL club of Manitoba doesn’t exactly have a plethora of netminders. Salminen and Holm started all but two of the games for the Moose this season. So who does that leave for Manitoba given they play game 1 of their first playoff series on Friday?
Netminder Evan Cormier, who signed a one-year deal with Winnipeg on March 1st, has started two games for the Moose this season. He is a very solid goaltender who might have ended up playing playoff games for Manitoba during the 2021-22 season but he was injured in practice before they began.
The Moose also signed goalie Joe Murdaca to a PTO back on April 19th.
It is possible if Rittich is good tomorrow at practice they send Holm back tomorrow or Thursday. Stay tuned.
