Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley appeared to confirm that he will miss time after sustaining an injury in Wednesday night’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Following the game, the 29-year-old goalie posted the following message on his Instagram Story.
“Injuries suck but I’m a very fast healer! Can’t wait to be back and what a great opportunity to reset physically, mentally, and find ways to gain an edge in my game off the ice so I can come back even better than before,” Cooley wrote.
“Sometimes what we don’t ever want to happen could end up being exactly what we need!
“And why should we feel anger at the world? As if the world would notice!”
Cooley was hurt in the first period when Oilers forward Colton Dach drove hard to the net and collided with the netminder.
Dach said he had no intent to injure on the play.
“I mean, I hate going out for the second period and seeing him not lead their team out,” he said. “I’m just trying to take it to the net and create a chance. But really unfortunate that he got hurt.”
The Los Gatos, Calif., native has a 4-3-0 record this season with a 2.69 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.
Cooley had been red hot entering Wednesday’s contest, winning each of his last four starts without allowing more than two goals. He left the game after stopping eight of nine shots with the Oilers leading 1-0.
“You don’t want to see anyone get hurt, let alone a guy that’s been playing some of his best hockey,” fellow Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf said post-game. “It’s unfortunate, we have to try and build around it and not rely on one guy, we’re a whole group in here, that’s how we have to play.”
The Flames would go on to lose the game 4-0, falling to 5-7-0 on the season.