It was a last-minute development before game time on Sunday. The Penguins removed goalkeeper Maxime Legace from the taxi squad, and Casey DeSmith was not dressed for the Penguins’ fight against Washington Capitals at the PPG Paints Arena, according to GM Ron Hextall.
The Penguins did not specify why DeSmith was scratched.
This season, the Penguins had only one player enrolled in the NHL COVID protocol. John Marino was placed on the system, but was released a few days later.
According to the Pittsburgh Penguins launch:
Lagace, 27, spent the 2019-20 campaign in the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, participating in 33 games. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound goalkeeper helped Providence reach the second best record in the AHL, going from 22-7-3 with an average of 2.37 goals, a percentage of saves of 0.919 and five shutouts. His total victories, average goals against, percentage of defenses and total shutout were all the highlights of AHL’s career.
Born in Saint-Augustin, Quebec, Lagace has played 158 games in six seasons at the AHL level, split between Providence, Chicago and Texas. He achieved a record of 82-44-17, averaging 2.79 goals against, 0.908 percentage of saves and eight closings. He also played in six games in the Calder Cup playoffs, going 2-3 with an average of 2.81 goals against and a percentage of 0.903 saved.
The undeveloped goalkeeper has 17 NHL experience games, all with the 2017-19 Vegas Golden Knights, where he went 6-8-1. Before turning pro, Lagace played four years in the QMJHL with Prince Edward Island, Cape Brenton and Shawinigan.
