The Flyers aren't the only ones suffering injury at key positions. A goaltending position that has already been tested at the NHL level will see itself doing the same in the AHL.
Eetu Makiniemi, signed to a one-year contract during training camp, left the Phantoms game against the Hershey Bears last Saturday. The goaltender was attempting to make a save against Zac Funk, going into a split on the play. He was unable to get back onto his skates by himself and left with nine minutes to go in the second period.
The injury turned out to be as bad as initially feared as Makiniemi will undergo surgery to treat a sports hernia. He is expected to miss at least the next three to four months. Bob Rotruck mentioned the news on the radio broadcast ahead of the Phantoms game against Providence on Friday night.
Bad news for Makiniemi. Mentioned on the broadcast tonight.
— Bob Rotruck (@BobRotruck) November 23, 2024
Unfortunately, his injury last week was indeed as bad as we feared.
Makiniemi was looking quite strong with the Phantoms this season after a hard year with the San Jose Barracuda dealing with injuries & health issues. https://t.co/3iKelOiSVk
Makiniemi impressed during training camp while on a PTO, earning himself a contract for the year. There was a good chance he was going to get NHL time. But once Aleksei Kolosov arrived, Makiniemi was ticketed for the Phantoms where he would split the net with Cal Petersen. And then Kolosov was sent down to the AHL to start the season.
It took until the sixth game of the season for Makiniemi to make his first start, a shootout loss to the Griffins. He would play a total of five games, though he was injured halfway through the fifth game. Unfortunately, injury is not something new for Makiniemi. His highest game total in a season since coming to North America was the 22 games he played with the San Jose Barracuda in 2022-23.
Makiniemi sidelined for next three to four months
For now, the Phantoms will run with the duo of Petersen and Parker Gahagen. Petersen has appeared in seven games so far this season, posting a 2-4-1-0 record. He has a 2.92 GAA and a .888 SV%. Petersen did help the Phantoms down the stretch last season as they fought their way into the playoffs.
Gahagen has filled in admirably at times in the AHL. He played 18 games for the Phantoms last season, posting a 2.59 GAA and a .914 SV%. While with Reading in the ECHL, his numbers were even better. Gahagen had a 2.28 GAA and a .936 SV%. His numbers haven't been the strongest with Reading this season, though.
It's not the best-looking duo, but it will have to suffice for the long term with Makiniemi out. And depending on if the Flyers continue to hold three goaltenders or not, they could get another addition at some point. It feels unlikely that Philadelphia will keep both Ivan Fedotov and Kolosov up for the entire year.
Unless they are worried about Sam Ersson's longevity that is. Ersson has already been sidelined twice as he deals with a groin injury of his own. Fedotov has stabilized himself after a rough start to the season. Kolosov has shown promise with his athleticism.
If the Flyers are afraid that Ersson will not be able to make it through an entire season, carrying three goaltenders may end up being what they do. Makiniemi's injury will put him around a late-February or early March return. The Phantoms may have to work with what they've got until then.