The New York Islanders have recalled Jaroslav Halak from the AHL in time for their game against Pittsburgh tomorrow night. Halak has been playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers since the beginning of 2017, after clearing waivers on New Year’s Eve. 
In the AHL the veteran netminder has proven he can still perform, going 17-7-1 with a .925 save percentage. While he’ll likely never again be the 2010 Halak that carried the Montreal Canadiens all the way to the Conference Finals, he should still be more effective than Jean-Francois Berube in a backup role.
The Islanders are in the thick of the playoff race after winning last night against the New York Rangers. After seeing the Maple Leafs leapfrog Boston yesterday, New York is now chasing the Bruins and find themselves two points back with a game in hand. They will face the Bruins on Saturday in an all important matchup, the second half of a back-to-back. Whether Halak starts in one of the two is still yet to be decided (or at least announced) but it does seem to coincide with the call-up.
Halak was part of a three goaltender rotation earlier in the year, but the Isles had buried him in the minors to save almost a million dollars (pro-rated for the length of his stay in the AHL) in cap space. After trying to move him at the deadline, the team instead kept him around for exactly this scenario. Now he can try to help them into the playoffs and once there, maybe work some of his magic. The 31-year old has a career .924 save percentage in the postseason.
Arthur Staple of Newsday was first to announce a recall was imminent.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.