The San Jose Sharks are getting their veteran goaltenders back, but now they have a pleasant “problem.”
Backup Vesa Toskala got the start Tuesday night against the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. He had suited up the Sharks’ previous two games after recovering from a groin injury and coming off the injured list, but hadn’t played.
Earlier in the day, the Sharks activated their No. 1 goalie, Evgeni Nabokov, who has been out since suffering a shoulder injury against Columbus on Oct. 21. But Nabokov didn’t dress for the game against the Avalanche.
With Nabokov out, and Toskala also briefly unavailable, the Sharks have been counting on former Providence goalie Nolan Schaefer, who was recalled Oct. 22 from Cleveland of the American Hockey League. In his first NHL chance, the 25-year-old Schaefer has responded well, going 5-1 with a 1.94 goals-against average and one shutout.
But unless the Sharks decide to carry three goaltenders, he probably will be back in Cleveland soon.
New voice
The Avalanche brought in some short-term help from the University of Denver hockey program Tuesday night. And it didn’t threaten any of the Pioneers’ NCAA eligibility.
DU junior Conor McGahey, the public-address announcer for the Pioneers’ home games at Magness Arena, filled in for Pepsi Center P.A. man Alan Roach.
Roach was in Italy, going through an Olympic Games orientation. He will be at the microphone at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, reprising his role at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.
Lowell shuttle
Because of uncertainty over whether Alex Tanguay would be sufficiently recovered from the flu to play against San Jose, the Avalanche recalled veteran forward Paul Healey from Lowell.
Tanguay played, so Healey joined defensemen Kurt Sauer and Bob Boughner as the healthy scratches.
