Texas Stars Goalie Mike McKenna Recalled to Dallas

(Credit: Texas Stars)

Goalie Mike McKenna has been recalled to the Dallas Stars. According to Dallas media, Kari Lehtonen is unavailable 'indefinitely' for personal reasons. Dallas plays three games in four nights starting tomorrow at home against Montreal.

McKenna has struggled early this year along with the team's defense. He is even 5-5-1 this year thanks to a high-scoring Texas offense. Landon Bow has won the majority of the starts over the past two weeks, but McKenna is the veteran of the pair.

I would expect a corresponding move to recall Philippe Desrosiers from Idaho ahead of the Texas game tomorrow in Chicago. Philippe Desrosiers has been recalled from Idaho to back up Landon Bow.

Here's the release:

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has recalled goaltender Mike McKenna from the Texas Stars, Dallas' top development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Nill also announced that goaltender Kari Lehtonen is unavailable indefinitely due to personal reasons.

McKenna, 34, has appeared in 12 games with Texas during the 2017-18 season, earning a 5-5-1 record with an .871 save percentage and a 3.51 goals against average. His five wins this season lead all Texas Stars netminders.

Over the course of his AHL career, he has appeared in 441 games, registering a 211-168-22 record with a .912 SV% and a 2.72 GAA with 26 shutouts. The netminder has logged a combined 22 NHL games with Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Columbus and Arizona, recording a 5-11-2 record with an .889 SV% and a 3.48 GAA.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound native of St. Louis, Mo. was signed by Dallas as a free agent on July 1, 2017. McKenna was originally selected by Nashville in the sixth round (172nd overall) of the 2002 NHL Draft.