Capitals Recall Michal Neuvirth From Hershey

[VodkaFish]

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled goaltender Michal Neuvirth (NOY-vihrt) from the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Hershey Bears, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Neuvirth, 20, is a first-year pro who stands 6’1”, 199 pounds and has backed up Washington goaltender Jose Theodore for the past three games. Neuvirth has split playing time between Hershey and the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL this year. He is 4-3-2 with the Bears this season and stopped 25 of 28 shots yesterday in a 3-2 loss to Portland.

He was 6-7-0-0 in 13 games in the ECHL and recorded a 2.28 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. He played in the ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 21 and stopped 19 of 20 shots he faced in 20 minutes of action.

The Usi Labem, Czech Republic, native was the Capitals’ second-round choice, 34th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He played a combined 33 games for three teams in the Ontario Hockey League last year and was a combined 17-7-5-3. Neuvirth represented the Czech Republic in the 2008 World Junior Championship and posted a 2-2-0 record. His .910 save percentage ranked fourth in the tournament and he was fifth with a 2.50 goals-against average.