Hurricanes assign Darling to Charlotte for conditioning stint

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced they have assigned goaltender Scott Darling to the Charlotte Checkers for a conditioning stint. Darling suffered a lower-body injury in the Canes final pre-season game against the Nashville Predators on Sep. 30.

Darling will start in net on Wednesday against the Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks affiliate). Darling will start over current Checkers starter Alex Nedeljkovic has a 2.17 goals against average and .917 save percentage in all six games this season. Darling’s assignment could lead to more roster shuffling for the Hurricanes when Darling is eventually recalled as they already have two goaltenders on their roster. Darling will not need to clear waivers once he is recalled.

The Checkers are now 5-1 on the season after starting the season on a five-game win streak. Charlotte suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday against Hershey after being shut out 2-0 at home.

Here is the press release from the Hurricanes on Darling’s assignment:

Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has activated goaltender Scott Darling from injured reserve and assigned him to the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers for a conditioning stint.

Darling, 29, suffered a lower-body injury in Carolina’s final exhibition game against the Nashville Predators on Sept. 30, and was placed on injured reserve on October 3. He is expected to start for Charlotte on Wednesday, when the Checkers visit the Utica Comets. Darling (6’5”, 226 lbs.) was 1-0-0 with a 1.97 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in the preseason prior to his injury.