Los Angeles Kings goalie Yutaka Fukufuji became the first Japanese-born person to play in the National Hockey League when he entered Saturday’s 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues at the start of the third period.
Fukufuji replaced Barry Brust, who allowed five goals in the first two periods, and stopped four of five shots faced.
The 24-year-old Fukufuji was recalled Friday from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis after Mathieu Garon was placed on injured reserve with a finger injury. Fukufuji became the first Japanese native to dress for a league game Dec. 16 against Dallas in another emergency stint.
Fukufuji is 2-0-0 with a 1.30 goals-against average in three games with Manchester this season.
