Abbotsford goalie Mackenzie Skapski will get a second start with the New York Rangers on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres.
Skapski, 20, got his first win — and his first NHL victory – against the Sabres on Feb. 20 in Buffalo.
In that game Skapski surrendered a goal 14 seconds in the game, but settled down and stopped 24 shots in a 3-1 victory.
The victory came on Skapski’s dad’s birthday and afterwards he posted an Instagram photo of himself being interviewed while still in his goalie gear with the caption: “Notched my first NHL win on my dad’s birthday #dream #47 #happybirthday”
“Last game was exciting, almost unexpected, but this is still a big game, another one in the NHL,” Skapski said on blueshirtsunited.com., the Rangers’ website, on Friday about his upcoming start. “Obviously there is an expectation to win, and if we lose it’s bad, reflects bad on the team.”
Rangers coach coach Alain Vigneault told the website: “He hasn’t played since our last time in Buffalo, but that’s the life of a backup. Cam [Talbot] has been playing extremely well and we decided to ride the hot hand; and tomorrow Mackenzie is going to get a second chance to play and I’m sure he’s going to do well.”
#NYR Practice Report: Skapski starts in Buffalo, plus latest on Henrik: http://t.co/51MCdTvodi pic.twitter.com/NPBAIrA0re
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 13, 2015
Skapski was first called-up by the Rangers for a game against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 4 after New York’s starting netminder Henrik Lundqvist suffered a neck injury.
Skapski played minor hockey with the Abbotsford Hawks and then for the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League. He was selected by the Rangers in the sixth round, 170th overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
