ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller went on injured reserve Wednesday with a recurrence of the dizziness and fatigue that has plagued him since the All-Star break.
The All-Star goalie will miss at least three more games, starting with Wednesday's visit from the Washington Capitals. Anaheim recalled Timo Pielmeier from the ECHL to serve as Curtis McElhinney's backup against Washington.
Hiller has played just once since he was pulled from the first period of his first game back from the All-Star weekend, where he was the only goalie representing the Western Conference. Two shots hit Hiller squarely in the mask during the All-Star festivities in Raleigh, N.C., but the Ducks don't know whether they're related to Hiller's health problems since then.
Hiller is among the NHL leaders in most goaltending statistics. He is tied for fourth in victories (26) and save percentage (.925), and his 1,373 saves are third-most in the league.
The Swiss netminder is 26-16-3 with five shutouts, and he has a 2.15 goals-against average in his last 15 games during the Ducks' rise into the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. Anaheim was in a four-way tie for fourth place in the West heading into Wednesday's games.
After giving up three goals in the first period of a loss to San Jose on Feb. 2, Hiller sat out the Ducks' next three games after reporting lightheadedness and exhaustion.
After making a trip to a Vancouver-area chiropractor during the Ducks' perfect four-game road trip last week, he returned to Anaheim's lineup in Edmonton, shutting out the NHL-worst Oilers last Sunday.
But Hiller reported more dizziness after Tuesday's practice, prompting the Ducks to shut him down for several more days. He will stay home from Anaheim's weekend road trip to Minnesota and St. Louis while undergoing more tests.
Hiller is eligible to return from the injured list for next Wednesday's home game against Los Angeles.
The Ducks signed veteran goalie Ray Emery last week, but Anaheim isn't likely to consider recalling him until he plays a few games with its AHL affiliate in Syracuse. Pielmeier has never played in an NHL game.