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Nashville Predators Recall Marek Mazanec From Milwaukee, Send Magnus Hellberg Down

The Nashville Predators have made a goaltending switch ahead of tomorrow night’s game at Colorado, sending Magnus Hellberg back to Milwaukee (without getting the chance to make his first NHL start) and recalling Marek Mazanec. This just arrived from the team:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled goaltender Marek Mazanec (MAIR-ehk muh-ZAN-ehk) from Milwaukee (AHL) and reassigned goaltender Magnus Hellberg (MAG-nuhs HEL-buhrg) to the Admirals.

Mazanec, 22 (7/18/91), is a perfect 5-0-0 in his first five starts in the American Hockey League with Milwaukee, and is one of three AHL netminders with a sub-2.00 goals-against average (1.97) and a save percentage north of .930 (.933). The 6-4, 197-pound native of Pisek, Czech Republic is in his first season in North America after helping HC Plzen win the Czech Extraliga title a season ago, stopping 48-of-51 shots in Game Seven of the Czech League finals, with former NHLer Martin Straka scoring the title-winning goal at the 16:15 mark of double overtime. Nashville’s ninth choice, 179th overall (sixth round), in the 2012 Entry Draft, Mazanec catches with his right hand – there have only been three right-catching goalies (Minnesota’s Josh Harding, Philadelphia’s Steve Mason and Anaheim’s Jonas Hiller) to appear in the NHL this season.

You have to feel a little bit bad for Hellberg, it would have been nice to see him get a start as Carter Hutton has been good, but certainly not great, in relief of Pekka Rinne.

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