Canucks Swap Goalies: Markstrom To AHL, Eriksson Recalled

In some minor news following yesterday’s set-back against the Los Angeles Kings, the Vancouver Canucks today announced some minor roster tweaks – sending goalie Jacob Markstrom back to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League and summoning Joacim Eriksson from Utica.

Markstrom, 25, has been with the Canucks since being recalled on February 23 following the injury to Ryan Miller. Since his recall, he’s played once – giving up three goals on four shots in 7:45 against the San Jose Sharks on March 3 – and sat on the bench for seven games. It doesn’t make sense for him to stay up if he’s not going to play, not to mention his performance in a key playoff battle against the Sharks probably didn’t do much to give Canucks brass confidence in him. He returns to a Utica Comets club rounding into playoff form.

Eriksson, 24, gets his first taste of NHL action this season, though most likely (like Markstrom) he’ll be primarily relied upon as a back-up to Eddie Lack until Miller makes his return. He gave up six goals in his lone NHL appearance to-date, a 9-1 shellacking of the Canucks by the Anaheim Ducks last January. He has been strong in the AHL, though, with a 17-10-5 record with a 2.61 goals against average and .907 save percentage in 34 appearances.