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Budaj Call: With Quick Hurt, LA Recalls Peter Budaj for Backup

With Jonathan Quick’s injury at the end of the first period on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings were in a bind. They filled their backup spot yesterday, as they officially recalled Peter Budaj.

It seems that Quick’s injury, the extent of which is still unknown, will be a “week-to-week” one according to the team.

Enter: Jeff Zatkoff. The former Manchester Monarch signed a 2-year deal over the summer to compete with Budaj for the role of Hat Model and occasional puck stopper when Darryl Sutter would’ve chosen to rest his starter. Zatkoff won the job and Budaj was sent to the minors 9 days before the season began, with Kings management crossing their fingers that no one would claim him like they did J.F. Berube a year ago.

In relief, Zatkoff managed to stop all but one shot (and be honest, no one was stopping that) and keeping the game close when the San Jose Sharks probably should’ve had a wider margin on the scoreboard.

With no other immediate options, LA summoned Budaj from the Inland Empire to don a hat and be a supportive door opener.

Last year with the Ontario Reign, Budaj played 60 games with 1.75 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. He was also called up last year following a minor injury to Quick, played one game against the New York Rangers, was tagged with four goals against and got the W after Tanner Pearson snapped the puck home in overtime. Budaj was the Reign’s backbone all season long and earned a trip to the AHL All Star Game.

How many NHL games he’ll get into this season remains to be seen, depending of course on how well Zatkoff plays and how long Quick is expected to be out.

Will the Kings roll with two backups or will they try their luck on the market? Only time will tell.

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