|
The Oilers are keeping Nikolai Khabibulin on ice, literally, as they try to bring down the inflammation in their starting netminder's back.
He's been laid up for two games and the team still isn't sure when he'll be able to return.
"At this point it hasn't made any progress," said head coach Pat Quinn.
"So we'll play (Jeff) Deslauriers and expect that he'll give us the kind of goaltending we need to have."
The Oilers were caught totally by surprise when Khabibulin's back went out a few hours before Saturday's loss to Chicago, so they scrambled to get Oil Kings starter Torrie Jung dressed as an emergency backup.
Now they've got Devan Dubnyk up from Springfield and it's as big a thrill for him as it was for Jung.
"It's really exciting," said Dubnyk, Edmonton's first round pick, 14th overall, in 2004.
"Everybody says they've been waiting for this moment a long time. I'm going to try to stay ready and be ready to go if they need me.
"I have no idea if he's out for a day or a week or what the plan is. I feel like I'm in a good spot right now and prepared to be here and really excited to possibly get a chance."
Dubnyk was just wrapping up his own game Saturday night when he got the second-hand news about Khabibulin.
"I had a couple of text messages from friends back home asking what was going on. I said 'You tell me.'
"I was a little anxious the whole night on the bus, didn't hear anything and went to bed thinking (Khabibulin was out) just one day.
"I was pretty excited to get the call in the morning.
"I have no idea what the game plan is or what's going on, I just have to be ready to play every game."
