(Sports Network) - Drastic times call for drastic measures, and the Kings were in such a situation a couple of weeks ago.
Faced with injuries to its top two goaltenders, Los Angeles went out and claimed netminder Sean Burke off waivers from Tampa Bay.
It all started in late December when Dan Cloutier was forced to have hip surgery. Then, in mid-January, Mathieu Garon went down with a finger injury. Both goaltenders are on injured reserve and are out indefinitely.
Cloutier, in his first season with the Kings after being acquired from Vancouver by trade, had been disappointing before his injury. His goals- against average was just under four at 3.98 and he had posted just six wins.
Garon, meanwhile, had been playing better than his counterpart, recording a 2.80 GAA and .904 save percentage.
So in stepped Burke, who turned 40 on Monday. Burke has been up to the challenge so far, even if it hasn't resulted in wins. In four games so far the netminder is just 1-2, but has posted a 2.95 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
His lone win since joining the Kings came on Friday, a 3-2 victory over Vancouver in overtime. Burke had 37 saves, six days after making his Kings debut against Phoenix, That game, he stopped 23-of-24 shots faced, but had to exit early due to dehydration.
FULL STORY
Faced with injuries to its top two goaltenders, Los Angeles went out and claimed netminder Sean Burke off waivers from Tampa Bay.
It all started in late December when Dan Cloutier was forced to have hip surgery. Then, in mid-January, Mathieu Garon went down with a finger injury. Both goaltenders are on injured reserve and are out indefinitely.
Cloutier, in his first season with the Kings after being acquired from Vancouver by trade, had been disappointing before his injury. His goals- against average was just under four at 3.98 and he had posted just six wins.
Garon, meanwhile, had been playing better than his counterpart, recording a 2.80 GAA and .904 save percentage.
So in stepped Burke, who turned 40 on Monday. Burke has been up to the challenge so far, even if it hasn't resulted in wins. In four games so far the netminder is just 1-2, but has posted a 2.95 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
His lone win since joining the Kings came on Friday, a 3-2 victory over Vancouver in overtime. Burke had 37 saves, six days after making his Kings debut against Phoenix, That game, he stopped 23-of-24 shots faced, but had to exit early due to dehydration.
FULL STORY
