The Minnesota Wild have called up goaltender Matt Hackett from Houston and assigned forward Jake Dowell to the AHL club, general manager Chuck Fletcher announced Thursday.
Hackett has a 2.66 GAA in 43 games for the Aeros, posting a .907 save percentage and a 19-20-3 record. This will be Hackett's second call-up this season, although he did not appear in a game during his last stint with the Wild.
The third-round pick still holds the record for having the longest shutout streak to begin a career, holding opponents scoreless for 102:48 in December 2011. Hackett has gone 3-6 with a 2.37 GAA in 12 games with Minnesota, all last season.
The move may be intended to give goalie Niklas Backstrom a rest. If Backstrom were to miss a game – the team next plays Friday night in Dallas -- Hackett and Darcy Kuemper would be coach Mike Yeo's two options to start in goal.
Dowell is being sent back to Houston after being recalled March 24 having not appeared in any games. He has four goals, three assists and 29 penalty minutes in 26 games for Houston this season. The Wisconsin native signed as a free agent in July and has played in 154 career NHL games.
