Thomas Greiss has started all but five games since Halak's demotion. J-F Berube, who has been Greiss' backup, is 3-2-2 with a 3.42 goals-against average and a save percentage of .889. Berube's last start was against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 13; he was pulled 8:02 into the second period after allowing four goals on 13 shots.
Halak was placed on waivers by the Islanders on Dec. 30; he cleared the following day and was sent to Bridgeport, where he was 17-7-3 with a 2.15 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in 27 games.
Halak's last NHL game was a 6-4 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 29. He was pulled in the second period after allowing four goals on 24 shots, including three in a span of 1:20.
The 31-year-old is 6-8-5 with a 3.23 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in 21 games for the Islanders this season. He is 206-123-42 with a 2.42 GAA and a .916 save percentage in 388 NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals and the Islanders.
New York acquired Halak from Washington in a trade May 1, 2014. Three weeks later, the Islanders signed him to a four-year, $18 million contract that runs through next season.
Halak set an Islanders record for wins by a goaltender with 38 in 2014-15.
