Erik Portillo Gets The Call

First, small news: Jacob Moverare was recalled to the Kings, and Caleb Jones was placed on injured reserve (IR).

The big news now. Darcy Kuemper also got placed on IR after suffering an injury in the Kings’ loss to the Avalanche on Wednesday. In a corresponding move to Kuemper being placed on IR, Erik Portillo was recalled to the Kings on an emergency loan basis from the Ontario Reign.

Yes, you read that right. It’s not Pheonix Copley getting the call like I thought it would be. The 24-year-old netminder is in his second professional season after posting 24 wins (a record for a rookie netminder in Reign AHL history), a 2.50 GAA, and a .918 save percentage.

Portillo has gotten off to a slow start this year as he missed three games with an illness and the numbers have dipped to start the season with a 3.02 GAA and an .891 save percentage. The slow start is a combination of him missing time with that illness, the Reign having a whole new defensive core that has shown growing pains with the puck in their end and not being defensively sound consistently, and Portillo’s rebound control that has been an issue at times this season, like last year.

The Kings take on the Detroit Red Wings at home tomorrow to kick off a three-game homestand.

Congratulations on the call-up, Ports!