The Anaheim Ducks have made an attempt to shore up their goaltending of late, acquiring Dan Ellis from the Tampa Bay Lightning for fellow goalie Curtis McElhinney. Ellis, 30, was 13-7-6 with Tampa Bay this season with a 2.93 GAA and an .889 save percentage. Anaheim has lost their last four games, all started by McElhinney, allowing 24 goals in those four losses.
"We are excited to acquire a goaltender of Dan’s caliber, someone we feel can help us immediately," said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray in a release from the team. "He has experience playing in big games down the stretch." Per ESPN, Ellis will make $1.5 million next season in the final year of his contract. McElhinney is making $570,000 this season and will be a free agent after this season.
McElhinney, 27, was 6-9-1 this season with a 3.43 GAA and .890 save percentage in 21 games. He has played more often of late, as All-Star goalie Jonas Hiller has been battling lightheadedness and has missed several games. At 68 points, the Ducks are tied for ninth in the Western Conference, but because the standings are tightly bunched, they are also just two points out of the fifth spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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