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Vegas Golden Knights Recall Maxime Lagace

By Richard Cardinale

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 09: Vegas Golden Knights Goalie Maxime Lagace (33) stands at the net during the game between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights on December 9, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 09: Vegas Golden Knights Goalie Maxime Lagace (33) stands at the net during the game between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights on December 9, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Vegas Golden Knights bring back an old friend from the minors due to an injury to Malcolm Subban.

Remember that time when the Vegas Golden Knights had three of their top four goaltenders injured? The expansion franchise had to quickly scramble and call up fourth-string goaltender Maxime Lagace and 18-year old Dylan Ferguson. That was by far the worst stretch of the Golden Knights season, but thankfully it wasn’t half bad.

Lagace held up well with a record of 6-6-1 to go along with a 3.79 GAA and a .872 SV%. However, with all the goaltenders healthy now, they had no choice but to send Lagace back to the Chicago Wolves. Things were going really well for Marc-Andre Fleury, and Malcolm Subban til an injury occurred at the morning skate in San Jose on Thursday.

Subban suffered an upper-body injury the morning of the Sharks game yet he was still present if the team needed him. The injury must’ve flared up over the past few days, and the Golden Knights deemed him out indefinitely. The team announced that Lagace is back from the Chicago Wolves and will back up Fleury.

Subban has been a big part of the success of this team posting an 11-3-1 record with a 2.59 GAA and a save percentage of .912%. To be fair, however, Subban struggled as of late giving up four goals in each of his last three starts. So you have to think maybe this is a good time to reset and heal that injury.

Lagace already proved he could hold up in the starters net so he should assume the backup role reasonably easily. Sure he fought through some terrible performances against the Rangers, Oilers, and Jets but he made sure he gave the team a chance to win on most nights. If there’s anyone that deserves a raise on this club its goaltending coach Dave Prior.

Head Coach Gerard Gallant says Prior makes all the goaltending decisions before games and he often pushes the right buttons.  This year, he has worked with three of the least experienced goaltenders in the league in Subban, Lagace, and Oscar Dansk. Those three goaltenders have a combined record of 20-9-2.

The Golden Knights are always in great shape with Fleury in the net, but the work those three goalies put in to keep Vegas afloat may be the story of the whole season. Next man up, and do your job, and that’s what this team has been about all year long. And that’s why they’re in the position they’re in today.

Next: Vegas Golden Knights: Successful Six-Game Road Trip

All in all, the Vegas Golden Knights should be just fine with Lagace taking the backup role for a while. The primary focus is nursing Subban’s injury and keeping the Flower fresh and injury-free. This team doesn’t need the same goaltending situation like they were in before.

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