Kings place Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve

A veteran netminder is going to miss time as a result of a collision on Monday night.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings announced that goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. In response, the team has called up goaltender Pheonix Copley from its American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign.

Kuemper was hurt in the first period of Monday night’s game between the Kings and the Dallas Stars. The incident happened with just a few minutes to go in the frame. While trying to make a save on a long-range shot, Kuemper was run into by Stars forward Mikko Rantanen. As play briefly resumed, Stars winger Wyatt Johnston banked the puck off Kuemper and into the net, but the goal was waved off due to the collision.

There was no penalty called on Rantanen, even though Kuemper was trying to make a save while in his crease. He was helped by the Kings’ training staff before leaving the ice. Anton Forsberg entered the game in relief. In 16 minutes of action, Kuemper stopped all five shots he faced. Los Angeles ended up losing, 4-1, with Rantanen scoring a goal and an assist.

Per the NHL’s IR rules, Kuemper won’t be eligible to return to the lineup until Dec. 23, when L.A. plays host to the Seattle Kraken.

Kuepmer had been having another solid season for the Kings. In starting 23 of the team’s first 32 games, Kuemper has a record of 10-6-6 with a 2.19 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and two shutouts. He had helped Los Angeles pick up points in the three games prior to his injury, including a 38-save performance in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames this past Saturday.

Copley has plenty of NHL experience. The former Washington Capital appeared in just one game last season, but went 4-1-2 in eight appearances for the Kings in 2023-24. In 77 regular-season NHL games, the 33-year-old has a record of 44-16-8, with a 2.84 GAA, a .898 SV% and three shutouts.

In 13 games with the Reign this season, Copley has a record of 7-6-0, with a 3.13 GAA and .885 SV%.

The Kings (14-9-9) sit third in the Pacific Division, four points out of first place.