Raanta goes down with head injury; Vasquez called as emergency backup

"The Neutral Zone" Roster Report

Antti Raanta's injury Thursday night forced the New York
Rangers to make Santino Vasquez as their emergency
backup goaltender.

(USATSI)

Antti Raanta started the game for the New York Rangers on Thursday night, but the game eventually had everything that can possibly happen to a goalie in this game.

With 6:11 remaining in the first period, Minnesota defenseman Marco Scandella's slap shot hit Raanta in the mask above the cage. Raanta remained on the ice before trainers assisted him to the locker room.

"He obviously has a head injury, but we will find out a little bit more [Friday]," coach Alain Vigneault told the Rangers website after the game. "Obviously, we have to do something cap-wise, we have to call up a goaltender for tomorrow (against the Winnipeg Jets). I am going to talk to [general manager] Jeff [Gorton] on the way to the airport, and we will figure it out."

The Rangers put Henrik Lundqvist in to replace Raanta, but who did the Rangers call as their emergency backup goaltender in case something happened to Lundqvist?

Santino Vasquez, that's who.

Vasquez has spent most of his time playing in the Czech Republic in a semipro league. He is a former goaltender for Division III hockey at Hamline University.

If Lundqvist went down during the game, the Rangers had someone that they could put in between the goal pipes in case that happened.

The Rangers lost 5-2.