Islanders’ Halak, Penguins’ Fleury are All-Star replacements

Goaltenders Jaroslav Halak of the New York Islanders and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday were designated as injury replacements for the NHL’s All-Star weekend, which will take place Jan. 24-25 in Columbus.

They will take the spots of Detroit’s Jimmy Howard and Nashville’s Pekka Rinne, who were injured soon after being chosen to participate.

Howard tore a groin muscle last Saturday and is expected to be out for two to four weeks.

Rinne sprained his left knee on Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined three to five weeks, a big loss for the resurgent Predators. The team said Rinne will be reexamined during the All-Star break.

The league previously selected Montreal Canadiens left wing Jiri Sekac to replace Kings left wing Tanner Pearson among the six rookies who will participate in the skills competition the day before the All-Star game. Pearson broke a bone in his leg last Saturday.

Halak will make his first All-Star appearance. He’s 23-8-0 with a 2.22 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and four shutouts for the East-leading Islanders.

Fleury will make his second All-Star appearance. He’s 22-7-4 with a 2.16 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and six shutouts.

Here’s a link to the NHL’s full press release on the replacement goalies.