Ducks place All-Star Hiller on IR

The Anaheim Ducks have placed All-Star goaltender Jonas Hiller on injured reserve due to fatigue and light-headedness.

The move, announced Tuesday night, keeps Hiller out of Wednesday's game against the Canucks. It's the second straight game he's missed with the fatigue issue. He also sat out last Saturday's game against the Avalanche.

According to the Orange County Register, Hiller practiced with the team Tuesday in Vancouver, but said he didn't feel like he was ready to play.

"It still doesn't feel 100 percent, but it was good to be back on the ice," Hiller said. "I guess we have to see how it develops tonight, if I still feel all right or what's going to happen. It seems all right right now, but I'm still not there."

Curtis McElhinney will make his second consecutive start, with rookie Timo Pielmeier recalled from Elmira of the ECHL to serve as the backup.

Hiller could be activated from the IR as soon as Thursday, as the move was made retroactive to Feb. 3.

Hiller is 25-16-3 with a 2.56 goals-against average and .926 save percentage, and played in his first NHL All-Star Game last month. However, he's second in the League in games played (47), shots-against (1,472) and saves (1,361).

The Ducks, who have won seven of their last 10, enter Wednesday's games seventh in the jam-packed Western Conference with 62 points, two points behind fourth-place San Jose and three behind third-place Dallas. The players are confident McElhinney can keep the winning ways going. McElhinney stopped all 25 shots he faced against the Avalanche in a 3-0 victory.

"He's a great goalie," defenseman Andy Sutton told the Orange County Register. "He's getting a chance to play and you see how good he is. He's phenomenal for us.

"We know Curtis. It's always great to have depth on the team. It's nice to know we have him when Jonas is out."