Panthers recall Cooper Black after Markstrom leaves practice

The first sign of trouble came Tuesday morning, before anybody in Florida had said a word about it officially.

Jameson Olive

@JamesonCoop

Markstrom left practice early yesterday. We'll see what Paul says later today.

Florida Panthers

@FlaPanthers

We have recalled goaltender Cooper Black from @CheckersHockey. 📝 » t.co/fi01RN8vvk t.co/SRTOsIQp70

"Paul" is Paul Maurice, and his Tuesday availability now carries a lot of weight. About 13 minutes after that tweet, the Panthers made a move that suggests they aren't waiting to find out how Markstrom feels.

George Richards

@GeorgeRichards

G Cooper Black has been called back up by the #FlaPanthers … we’ll see what’s up at practice here in a bit.

Florida has made this move before, and recently. Black was called up from 13 to 16 October the last time Markstrom got banged up, and he never got into a game. Markstrom missed the Columbus game on 14 October with an undisclosed injury, Akira Schmid took over in net, and Maurice said at the time that he expected both Markstrom and Radko Gudas to be ready for the road trip opener in Ottawa. That opener is Wednesday, the first of 4 straight road games, and the starter just walked off the practice ice early.

When a team recalls the same goalie twice in a week, it's planning for a missing goalie. Markstrom is 36 and is 3-1-1 with a 2.21 GAA and a.897 save percentage in 6 starts this season. Those numbers are solid, not great, and they belong to a guy whose body keeps sending warning signs in October. Nobody has said it's serious, and the earlier problem was treated as day-to-day. Still, an early exit from practice the day before a road trip means something isn't right.

Black is 25 and has started well in Charlotte: 2-1-0 with a.919 save percentage and a 2.67 GAA in 3 AHL appearances. If Markstrom can't go, Schmid probably gets the crease and Black backs him up. Black's NHL debut is one more injury away, and Florida's goalie depth is a lot thinner than a contender would like this early in the year.

Watch Maurice's media session Tuesday and the Wednesday morning skate in Ottawa. If Markstrom skates and Maurice shrugs it off, Black is probably on his way back to Charlotte within days. If Maurice uses the words "day-to-day" again, Florida's goalie situation is a real problem one week into the season.