Darcy Kuemper News

Charlie Lindgren (upper body) will return to the Capitals lineup Thursday but Darcy Kuemper will start his third straight game as he takes on Seattle at home. The 33-year-old has struggled mightily in what has been the worst statistical season of his 12 year career, with his 10-9-2 record, 3.24 GAA and .893 SV%. He takes on the NHL's hottest team in the Seattle Kraken Thursday, who has won seven straight games and has not lost in regulation in 10 contests.

Kuemper will return to the crease on Friday for a Capitals club that has lost five of their last six (1-3-2). In his last outing, Kuemper played well, saving 32 of 33 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but has allowed three or more goals in three consecutive games (1-2-0), posting a miserable .863 SV%. The Capitals are +158 home underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have won four straight, outscoring their opposition 19-8.

Kuemper will likely return to the crease on Friday for a Capitals club that has lost five of their last six (1-3-2). In his last outing, Kuemper played well, saving 32 of 33 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but has allowed three or more goals in three consecutive games (1-2-0), posting a miserable .863 SV%. The Capitals are +158 home underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have won four straight, outscoring their opposition 19-8.

The Capitals, losers of four straight, will return to Kuemper on Tuesday when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a three-game winning streak where Kuemper allowed two goals or less in each game, Kuemper has allowed five goals in consecutive games, both losses, posting an ugly .833 SV%. The Capitals are +151 road underdogs against the Penguins, who have outscored their opposition 14-3 during a three-game winning streak.

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).