Budaj, 35, played in two games with the Crunch last weekend, posting a 0-1-1 record to go along with a 2.95 goals-against average and .887 save percentage. He has also appeared in seven games with the Lightning this season, posting a record of 3-3-1 to go along with a 3.80 goals-against average and .878 save percentage. Budaj has won three of his past five starts with the Bolts. The 6-foot-1, 196-pound goaltender suffered a lower body injury on December 29 against the Philadelphia Flyers and has missed the past 22 games.
The Banska Bystrica, Slovakia native has played in 81 career AHL games over two seasons with the Ontario Reign and St. John's IceCaps, registering a record of 42-24-11 to go along with nine shutouts, a 2.13 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. Budaj posted an AHL-best 42 wins during the 2015-16 season while with the Reign, winning the Baz Bastien Award as the league's top goaltender.
Budaj was originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, 33rd overall at the 2001 NHL Draft.
