The San Jose Sharks assigned top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov to the AHL, the team announced Tuesday.
Askarov started two of the Sharks' last three games - a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday and Monday's 7-2 rout of the Los Angeles Kings - in his first taste of NHL action this season.
He posted a .927 save percentage and 1.96 goals against average while saving 1.46 goals above average and 1.26 goals above expected at all strengths, according to Evolving-Hockey.
Askarov also recorded his first-ever assist on the Sharks' opening goal of the game against the Kings.
San Jose's usual backup goaltender, Vitek Vanecek, hasn't played since Nov. 16 because of an upper-body injury, which prompted Askarov's first call-up of the season. Mackenzie Blackwood has taken on the bulk of the Sharks' workload and owns a .909 save percentage in 14 appearances.
Askarov has appeared in nine AHL games for the San Jose Barracuda this season, registering a .939 save percentage, six wins, and two shutouts.
The Sharks acquired the 22-year-old from the Nashville Predators in the summer.
