Jake Allen, your timing is remarkable: Blues place Elliott on long-term IR
ST. LOUIS -- Jake Allen wouldn't have minded a rest before sliding into goal for the Blues for the first time since Jan. 8. But there he was in the first period against San Jose on Monday night, taking over for Brian Elliott rather than watching from the bench.
Welcome back, Jake. And get ready to rock because the starting job is yours again.
Elliott suffered a lower-body injury at 12:59 of the first period Monday night when San Jose's Logan Couture pushed the puck past him for the Sharks' third goal of the night. Elliott left the game and was replaced by Allen, who had missed 17 games with a lower-body injury of his own. The Sharks won 6-3.
And now Elliott will be out for a while. The Blues placed him on long-term injured reserve Tuesday. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated in four weeks.
In response to Elliott's injury, the Blues have recalled goaltender Pheonix Copley from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.
Elliott, 30, has appeared in 34 games for the Blues this season, posting the NHL's fifth-best win percentage at .667 (17-7-6). He ranks fifth overall in goals-against average (2.14) and third in save percentage (.929) while his recent stretch of 18 consecutive starts is the longest by any goaltender this season.
Allen, 25, had appeared in 33 games for the Blues before stepping in Monday, logging an 18-10-3 (.629) record along with a 2.17 GAA, a .924 save percentage and five shutouts. At the time of his injury, Allen ranked fifth in win percentage, seventh in GAA, ninth in save percentage and second in shutouts among all NHL goalies with at least 20 starts.
Copley, 24, has dressed in 28 games for the Wolves this season, posting a 12-12-2 record along with a 2.73 GAA, a .907 save percentage and three shutouts. The 6-foot-4, 196-pound native of North Pole, Alaska, was originally acquired by the Blues via trade from the Washington Capitals on July 2, 2015.
