Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Pierre Engvall (47) scores his team's third goal of the game against Carolina Hurricanes emergency goalie David Ayres (90) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) - The Carolina Hurricanes were forced to use an emergency goaltender against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night after both of their netminders left with injuries.
David Ayres, who works as a Zamboni driver for the Toronto Marlies, served as the emergency goalie.
The 42-year-old Ayres was forced into action in Marlies gear and a Hurricanes jersey midway through the second period after Carolina's James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were injured. The Hurricanes were leading 3-1 when Ayres took over.
Ayres, from Whitby, Ontario, has backed up both the Marlies, the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate, and Charlotte Checkers of the AHL in the past.
Reimer started, but left just 6:10 into the first period with a lower-body injury after Toronto's Zach Hyman shoved a Hurricanes defenseman on top of him in the crease.
Mrazek came in, but also had to leave after a collision with Leafs forward Kyle Clifford while attempting to play the puck near the face-off dot in Carolina's zone in the second.
Both Hyman and Clifford were given penalties.
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Carolina Hurricanes emergency goalie David Ayres, right, comes out of his net to play the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during second-period NHL hockey action in Toronto, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. Ayres, who serves as the Toronto Marlies' ice resurfacer driver, replaced Petr Mrazek in-net after a delay in action. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Associated Press
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (not shown) scores his team's second goal of an NHL hockey game against Carolina Hurricanes emergency goalie David Ayres (90) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Associated Press
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21) and center Martin Necas (88) speak to Hurricanes emergency goalie David Ayres as he takes the ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs during second-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Associated Press