Kuemper will be the starter for the Capitals on Friday after watching Hunter Shepard lead them to a 6-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils in his first career NHL game. Kuemper, and the Capitals as a whole, have struggled immensely to start the season. Kuemper's 3.67 GAA and .868 SV% through four games (1-2-1) pale in comparison to the 2.56 GAA and .916 SV% he has amassed over his 360-game career (166-123-44) and is a clear indication this Capitals team is no longer the powerhouse it once was. Despite being -125 home favourites, Kuemper and the Capitals will be challenged against the Minnesota Wild and their fifth-ranked offence (3.86 GF / GP).
