Blazers’ goaltending situation in limbo days before season-opener

Last year’s back-up Max Palaga has been ill this week, leaving only two goalies at practice – 16 year old Dylan Garand, the third-string netminder last season, and 17 year old Rayce Ramsay. Head coach Serge Lajoie says he’ll have to play the goaltending situation day by day.

“Rayce Ramsay and Dylan Garand, they’ve been phenomenal in terms of taking advantage of the opportunities they’ve been given,” said Lajoie. “When I say phenomenal, it’s not just the performance on the ice. They’ve been excellent contributors in the dressing room, they’re not just seeing themselves as first-year goaltenders, they’re first-year vets. They’re taking on a leadership role. If anything, it’s clouding the waters even more so.”

The Golden Knights haven’t revealed what their plans are with Ferguson, but unless Vegas is hammered with injuries during the preseason, he’ll likely to return to the Blazers at some point for his 20-year-old season.

“We’ll see what happens with Dylan. I’m going to say that I’m expecting him back, whether that happens or not, but I’m expecting him back. That would be the best-case scenario moving forward for us,” noted Lajoie.

by Chad Klassen

Blazers’ goaltending situation in limbo days before season-opener

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