Darcy Kuemper News

Kuemper did not play the last two games before the Christmas break for the Capitals but seems to be turning the corner on a terrible start to the 2023-24 campaign. In his first 13 games (5-6-2), Kuemper posted an ugly .887 SV% but is boasting a stellar .947 SV% in three games since (3-0-0), riding three consecutive quality starts for the first time this season. That said, the Capitals are sizeable +181 road underdogs against a New York Rangers team that has won four of their last five outings (4-1-0).

On the front end of a back-to-back for the Capitals, Kuemper will start for the second straight game. Kuemper is riding consecutive quality starts and wins for only the second time this season, and will look for his first three-game winning streak on Wednesday. The 33-year-old netminder has saved 60 of the last 63 shots he has faced (.952 SV%). The Capitals are -114 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that has been scoring at an impressive rate lately, averaging 4.1 goals per game over their last 11 contests (7-2-2). Kuemper allowed three goals on 21 shots (.857 SV%) in a losing effort to the Islanders last month.

The Capitals were beginning to alternate starts between Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren, but with Lindgren recovering from an illness, Kuemper will start for the third consecutive game on Monday. Despite a 1-2-0 record, Kuemper is in the midst of one of his most consistent three-game stretches of the season, saving 81 of 90 shots in the process (.900 SV%). The Capitals are +114 road underdogs against a red-hot Arizona Coyotes team that has won four straight games, outscoring their opposition 13-5.

Kuemper will get his third start in five games as he takes the crease Thursday in Ahaheim after allowing two goals on 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a loss to San Jose in his last appearance. The 33-year-old veteran has struggled this season which has led to almost an even split in Washington's crease, with his 4-4-2 record, .894 SV% and 2.95 GAA. He takes on the struggling Anaheim Ducks, who are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak and are 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.68).

Kuemper will get his third start in five games as he takes the crease Thursday in Ahaheim after allowing two goals on 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a loss to San Jose in his last appearance. The 33-year-old veteran has struggled this season which has led to almost an even split in Washington's crease, with his 4-4-2 record, .894 SV% and 2.95 GAA. He takes on the struggling Anaheim Ducks, who are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak and are 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.68).

Charlie Lindgren has seen an increased workload in the crease for the Capitals lately but, after allowing five goals in their 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, Kuemper will be the starter on Monday and get the chance to regain control of the crease. Kuemper has been wildly inconsistent this season and only has a quality start in three of nine contests this season (.333 QS%), numbers that rival career lows and are significantly lower than his career average of .548 QS%. That said, Kuemper is coming off a serviceable performance in which he saved 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres that he will hope to build on. The Capitals are heavy -236 road favourites against the last-place San Jose Sharks, who they defeated 4-3 less than a month ago.

Charlie Lindgren has seen an increased workload in the crease for the Capitals lately but, after allowing five goals in their 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, Kuemper will likely be the starter on Monday and get the chance to regain control of the crease. Kuemper has been wildly inconsistent this season and only has a quality start in three of nine contests this season (.333 QS%), numbers that rival career lows and are significantly lower than his career average of .548 QS%. That said, Kuemper is coming off a serviceable performance in which he saved 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres that he will hope to build on. The Capitals are heavy -236 road favourites against the last-place San Jose Sharks, who they defeated 4-3 less than a month ago.

Several minor injuries tied in with the strong play of Charlie Lindgren have limited Kuemper to only one start since November 2nd, but he will return to the create on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Kuemper has struggled this season, posting an uncharacteristic 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% through eight games (3-3-2), and has historically been poor against the Sabres with a 3.69 GAA and .878 SV% in seven career meetings (3-2-1). That said, the Capitals have won four straight and are -120 home favourites against a Sabres team that will again be without Tage Thompson (upper-body).

Several minor injuries tied in with the strong play of Charlie Lindgren have limited Kuemper to only one start since November 2nd, but he will likely return to the create on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Kuemper has struggled this season, posting an uncharacteristic 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% through eight games (3-3-2), and has historically been poor against the Sabres with a 3.69 GAA and .878 SV% in seven career meetings (3-2-1). That said, the Capitals have won four straight and are -120 home favourites against a Sabres team that will again be without Tage Thompson (upper-body).

Kuemper left practice in difficulty with an apparent lower-body injury on Wednesday. Kuemper had just returned to the lineup and served as the backup to Charlie Lindgren after not dressing for two games with an undisclosed injury. It is unclear at this time if Kuemper will miss any time. He has an uncharacteristically poor 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% through eight games this season (3-3-2).

Kuemper (undisclosed) will make his return to the Capitals lineup on Tuesday after not dressing for their previous two games but will serve as the backup, likely to Lindgren, who has started two of their last four contests. Kuemper has not played since November 8th and has struggled to find his form this season, posting a 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% through eight games (3-3-2).

Kuemper isn't expected to miss significant time but did not participate in practice on Friday and will be unavailable for their game against the New Jersey Devils. The Capitals have called up Hunter Shepard from Hershey (AHL), who will back up Charlie Lindgren on Friday. Shepard saved 18 of 22 shots in his only NHL game earlier this season, a 6-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

Kuemper will return to the Capitals crease on Wednesday after serving as the backup to Charlie Lindgren in the team's most recent contest, a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kuemper has been inconsistent this season, playing well below his career average, likely a reflection of the Capitals team in front of him who, despite a respectable 5-4-1 start, ranks 31st in the league offensively (1.90 GF / GP). In his most recent game, Kuemper allowed three goals on 21 shots (.857 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the New York Rangers. On Wednesday, the Capitals are +118 home underdogs as they welcome the Florida Panthers, who have collected points in five of their last six outings (4-1-1).

Kuemper will likely return to the Capitals crease on Wednesday after serving as the backup to Charlie Lindgren in the team's most recent contest, a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kuemper has been inconsistent this season, playing well below his career average, likely a reflection of the Capitals team in front of him who, despite a respectable 5-4-1 start, ranks 31st in the league offensively (1.90 GF / GP). In his most recent game, Kuemper allowed three goals on 21 shots (.857 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the New York Rangers. On Wednesday, the Capitals are +118 home underdogs as they welcome the Florida Panthers, who have collected points in five of their last six outings (4-1-1).

Kuemper was sensational in his last start as he kept a two game winning streak alive after stopping 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a victory over San Jose and is expected to start Thursday vs. the New York Islanders. The 33-year-old netminder has had an up-and-down start to his 2023-24 season, with his 3-2-0 record, .903 SV% and 2.92 GAA. He hosts the Islanders at home Thursday, who are ninth in the NHL in shots per game (32.9) but have struggled to score ranking 25th in goals per game (2.63).

Kuemper was sensational in his last start as he kept a two game winning streak alive after stopping 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a victory over San Jose and is expected to start Thursday vs. the New York Islanders. The 33-year-old netminder has had an up-and-down start to his 2023-24 season, with his 3-2-0 record, .903 SV% and 2.92 GAA. He hosts the Islanders at home Thursday, who are ninth in the NHL in shots per game (32.9) but have struggled to score ranking 25th in goals per game (2.63).