Cal Petersen
was loaned to Ontario of the American Hockey League on Thursday after clearing waivers.
The 28-year-old goalie is 5-3-2 with a 3.75 goals-against average and .868 save percentage in 10 games (nine starts) this season. He allowed four goals on 16 shots in a 9-8 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday after replacing Jonathan Quick in the second period.
"I think the idea here is Cal can go down to the American League and play in games and get that structure that we believe in, and come back up and help us," Kings general manager Rob Blake said.
Pheonix Copley
was recalled from the AHL and served as Quick's backup against the Arizona Coyotes. Quick made 18 saves in a 5-3 win.
Petersen is in the first season of a three-year, $15 million contract extension he signed Sept. 22, 2021.
Los Angeles entered Thursday 27th in the NHL in goals-against average (3.60) and last in save percentage (.879).
"It's obviously a sign or a signal of performance," coach Todd McLellan said. "And one guy bears the brunt of it, and he plays a big part in it, but we're all responsible for goals-against average and save percentage. And we haven't done a sufficient enough job of protecting our goaltenders and helping them up. You can't play perfect and they have to make a big save every now and then, but we still can do a better job of insulating them."
The Kings are 2-2-3 in their past seven games. They have allowed four or more goals 12 times (3-8-1) in 26 games this season.
Petersen allowed at least three goals in nine of his 10 games.
"I felt sorry for him because, you know, maybe he hasn't performed to the best of his ability, and he would be the first probably to say that," defenseman Drew Doughty said. "But at the same time, we haven't played well in front of him. … And, yeah, it was a little shocking, but I have full confidence that Cal is going to play well when he gets down there and when he comes back, he's going to really help us." -- Dan Greenspan