Coyotes trade goalie Montoya for sixth-round pick
The Phoenix Coyotes traded backup goalie Al Montoya to the New York Islanders Wednesday in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft.
Montoya played in five games with the Coyotes, posting a 3-1-0 record and a 2.08 goals against average in the 2008-09 season.
Montoya spent this season with the Coyotes’ American Hockey League affiliate, posting an 11-8-0 record with a 3.19 goals against average and a .891 save percentage.
The move comes after starting goalie Ilya Bryzgalov posted two shutouts in the last two games with 25 saves in a 1-0 win over Minnesota Saturday and 26 saves in a 3-0 win over Colorado Monday.
However, Bryzgalov has had his struggles, allowing four or more goals five times in a seven game span.
The move leaves Phoenix with two goalies on the roster, Bryzgalov and Jason LaBarbera.
Montoya was acquired in 2008 from the New York Rangers. He was drafted by New York sixth overall in the first round of the 2004 NHL draft.
