Dubnyk's illness gets backup goalie on a plane

In introducing himself after his first NHL morning skate Thursday, goaltender Steve Michalek described himself as a "battler."

The Wild prospect proved that during his memorable American Hockey League debut Jan. 30 when not only did he make 32 saves in an Iowa Wild win, he fought and floored Charlotte Checkers goalie Daniel Altshuller.

"That was not how I imagined it going down, but it was good to get the first game out of the way," said Michalek, 22. "It was certainly one I won't forget. I survived."

With Devan Dubnyk sick, Michalek — a 2011 sixth-round pick who backstopped Harvard to an ECAC championship last season — was recalled under emergency conditions to back up Darcy Kuemper in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He wore No. 50.

Michalek (pronounced MIKE-ehl-ECK) was in net for Iowa during Wednesday's victory at Winnipeg when he got the call from Wild assistant GM Brent Flahr. He got little sleep and was on an early-morning flight to the Twin Cities for the morning skate.

"The goal is to make it up here. The adrenaline's pumping," Michalek said of his first skate. "Almost felt like a game out there. It was fun."

Michalek has had a good first year as a pro. He has spent most of the year with ECHL Quad City, going 12-8-4 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. He is 6-2 with Iowa with a 2.13 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

Michalek's recall got Kuemper reminiscing about his first NHL call-up on Feb. 12, 2013. Josh Harding had complications from multiple sclerosis, so Kuemper parachuted into Vancouver and made 28 saves in a 2-1 loss.

"I was pretty numb from basically the time I boarded the flight the night before until about halfway through the first period," Kuemper said, laughing. "It's something you look forward to your whole life. It was a dream that didn't seem to be true at all."

Veteran center Jarret Stoll, a former Oiler, was back in the lineup after being scratched for the first time in his Wild career.

"I don't think I was playing very well," said Stoll, 33. "The penalty kill wasn't doing well, so change something up. But it's not fun."

Stoll had been on 10 of 16 power-play goals against over the previous 16 games.

Coach John Torchetti has a lot of respect for Stoll.

"He does a great job with his leadership, the way he talks before games, after," Torchetti said. "He's actually the first guy in the room [before practices and games]. Tells you a lot about him."

Jason Pominville's 231 consecutive games played streak — tied with Kyle Brodziak for second-longest ironman streak in Wild history — ended Thursday.

Pominville was injured in the first period Saturday in Buffalo. He played Sunday against St. Louis but hasn't been on the ice since because of a strained muscle. Torchetti said Pominville will "probably" come on the team's upcoming three-game road trip.

Justin Fontaine, scratched the previous two games, took Pominville's spot on the Nino Niederreiter-Erik Haula line. Forward Ryan Carter and defenseman Nate Prosser were scratched.