Jason LaBarbera is playing in his just his sixth game this season, and the Phoenix Coyotes' backup goalie doesn't have much protection behind him.
LaBarbera was tabbed Thursday night to replace No. 1 netminder Ilya Bryzgalov, who came down with the flu shortly before the Coyotes faced the New York Rangers. With no time to call up a backup goalie from the minors, the scrambling Coyotes signed Tom Fenton.
If the name doesn't sound familiar, that is because earlier Thursday, the 26-year-old Fenton was working in his job as director of game operations and communications at Manhattanville College in nearby Purchase, N.Y. He was signed to an emergency contract but isn't expected to move off the Coyotes' bench unless LaBarbera, a former Rangers player, is knocked out of the game.
Fenton's goaltending experience consists of a four-year stint at American International College in Springfield, Mass. He went 1-12-1 with a 3.60 goals-against average in the 2008-09 season.
