Rangers' Emergency Goalie Was Watching Game on Sofa Before Getting the Call

Always be ready.

Coaches harp on the concept constantly, but partway through the New York Rangers-Minnesota Wild matchup last night, semi-pro goalie Santino Vasquez exemplified the notion when he got a call from the Wild—while sitting on his couch.

Rangers starter Antti Raanta left the game with 6:11 remaining in the first period after a slap shot hit him in the forehead. Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who was supposed to have the night off, had to step in. That left the Rangers sorely in need of reinforcement netminders.

Every NHL team is required to make an emergency backup goalie available to visiting teams. The Wild asked Vasquez a month ago to be the designated on-call man.

Thus, Kirk Olson, the Wild's strength and conditioning coach and house goalie manager, reached out to Vasquez. The former Hamline University reserve, who had been watching the game at home, hurriedly made his way to the Xcel Energy Center.

According to the Pioneer Press, Vasquez never officially made it to the bench, but he was present and prepared:

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"I live like two minutes away over the bridge. I just grabbed all my (stuff) and got down here."

Vasquez, 26, spent the next two-plus hours sequestered in an auxiliary room across from the Rangers' dressing room, dressed in hockey undergarments wondering whether he would be summoned for the moment of a lifetime and New York's greatest nightmare.

"I was just in here stretching, just hanging out, staying relaxed," he said. "I don't really get too nervous. I've been down here a lot. I would have been ready to play, that's for sure. I know they wouldn't have scored on me every shot."

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However, the Wild did score on King Henrik three times in just over eight minutes during the final period for a total of four goals after Raanta's exit. They won the game 5-2.

Perhaps next time they're down a man in the net in Minnesota, the Rangers will consider Vasquez as an option.

[Pioneer Press, h/t For The Win]