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Goalie Karlsson assigned to Heat, Irving recalled

The Abbotsford Heat swapped goalies with the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

The Abbotsford Heat swapped goalies with the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

Leland Irving, who had been assigned to the Heat last Tuesday after spending two months with the NHL parent club, was recalled by the Flames. He'll be replaced in the Heat crease by Henrik Karlsson, Calgary's usual backup, who was sent to Abbotsford on a two-week conditioning stint.

Karlsson hasn't seen game action since early December due to a sprained knee ligament. The 28-year-old Swede is poised to play the first AHL games of his career; he was 0-4-1 with a 3.48 goals against average and an .895 save percentage in six appearances with the Flames this season prior to the injury.

Karlsson could make his Heat debut in a familiar setting – the Heat are hosting the Oklahoma City Barons on Thursday evening in Calgary at the Flames' home rink, the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Heat and Barons then fly to Abbotsford for a rematch on Saturday (7 p.m., Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre).