The Washington Capitals announced Monday morning that they have recalled goaltender Vitek Vanecek from his conditioning loan with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Vanecek stopped 21 of 23 shots he faced in his conditioning game with the Hershey Bears on Sunday.
Nice series of stops by Vitek Vanecek. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/RtrWkVuLil
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 27, 2022
Vanecek, 26, has posted a record of 10-6-5, with two shutouts, a 2.39 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage this season. In 24 games, the 6’2″, 184-pound goaltender has a 1.75 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage at five-on-five. The Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic, native has the lowest goals-against average and rebounds allowed per 60 minutes of play (1.86) and the fourth highest save percentage in the NHL at five-on-five among goaltenders with at least 15 games played.
“Vitek” chants return to Hershey. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Wt7fY8qdSx
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 27, 2022
In 61 career games with the Capitals, Vanecek is 31-16-9 with four shutouts, a 2.58 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
The Capitals selected Vanecek with their second-round pick, 39th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft. Washington re-acquired Vanecek from the Seattle Kraken for a second-round draft pick (originally acquired from the Winnipeg Jets) in the 2023 NHL Draft on July 28, 2021.
