THE CANADIAN PRESS
WINNIPEG — Eddie Pasquale is ready to step on the ice in his first NHL game if called upon.
"You look at guys like Jake Allen, he’s my age, Matt Hackett last year, Robin Lehner, guys that I compared myself (with)," he said Thursday after his first practice with the Winnipeg Jets. "I mean, if those guys can do it I don’t see why I couldn’t do it."
The 22-year-old Pasquale was called up from the AHL earlier this week because Winnipeg backup netminder Al Montoya is injured.
Coach Claude Noel says Montoya isn’t just out for a day or two and will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.
Noel says Pasquale has shown a lot of poise playing with the St. John’s IceCaps and the Jets coach has a lot of confidence in the young goaltender.
"I wouldn’t be afraid to use him that’s for sure," Noel said. "He’s earned the right to be here."
Noel also says forward Eric Tangradi, picked up this week from Pittsburgh, should see action in Friday’s game against the Penguins.
"He’s a young guy and has good size," Noel said. "When I watch him, I like a lot of the things he does."
It’s still uncertain whether defenceman Zach Bogosian will play but he says he feels ready to return following off-season wrist surgery.
"He’s ready to go, I’m not sure I’d hold him out of there," said Noel.
