Askey Has a Night to Remember

Goaltender Tom Askey’s NHL debut came in the Ducks’ Friday the 13th brawl with the Dallas Stars in March of last season. His Stanley Cup playoff debut came Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena.

Two memorable games.

Two memorable debuts.

“If I never play again I’ll have some stories to tell the grandchildren,” Askey said. “It’s funny how things work out.”

Wednesday morning, Askey was with his Cincinnati Mighty Duck teammates at the airport waiting for a flight to Philadelphia, where they would begin the first round of the American Hockey League playoffs.

Cincinnati Coach Moe Mantha walked up to Askey at about 10 a.m. local time and told him he was heading to Detroit to join the Anaheim Mighty Ducks because backup goalie Dominic Roussel was too ill to leave his hotel room.

Askey arrived in Detroit at about 3 p.m., prepared to do little more than soak up the playoff atmosphere while Guy Hebert attempted to turn away the two-time Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

What began as an interesting side trip ended with Askey thrust into the middle of Game 1 against the Red Wings after Hebert was kicked in the head midway through the second period.

“It was pretty much just another game,” Askey said after making nine saves in relief of Hebert in the Ducks’ 5-3 loss. “I didn’t have time to be nervous. Everything happened so fast.”