Kempe was a healthy scratch vs. the Wild on Tuesday but is expected to replace Carl Grundstrom vs. the Red Wings. After posting 37 and 28 points in the last two seasons, Kempe has struggled to a 19-point pace in 2019-20.
In addition to calling up Jonathan Ericsson on Wednesday, Hicketts will also join the Red Wings in California. Hicketts had one assist in four games with the Red Wings earlier in the season and leads all Griffins defensemen with nine points (0G / 9A) in 11 AHL games.
Kempe has appeared in all 17 games so far this season but has been held pointless in his last four games and played a season-low 9:21 TOI on Saturday. Nikolai Prokhorkin is expected to replace him in the lineup.
Kuemper had his worst outing of the season on Saturday, allowing four goals on 24 shots in the Coyotes loss to the Wild. Uncharacteristically, Kuemper has lost two straight while allowing a combined seven goals on 57 shots (.877 SV%). With Antti Raanta starting last night's shootout win in Washington, the Coyotes will come back to Kuemper in St. Louis. So far this season, Kuemper has gone 4-2-0 with a 2.14 GAA and .920 SV% on the road.
Kuemper allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Coyotes loss to the Blue Jackets on Thursday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Kuemper, who comes into Saturday's game at 3-2-0 with a 1.42 GAA, .955 SV% and one shutout on home-ice. On the other side, the Wild have lost six of their last seven road games while averaging just 2.14 goals per game.
Kuemper allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Coyotes win in Edmonton on Monday. Antti Raanta gave him the night off on Tuesday but the Coyotes will come right back to the red-hot Kuemper on Thursday. In his last eight starts, Kuemper is 7-1-0 with a 1.73 GAA, .939 SV% and one shutout. You wouldn't dare bench him in any matchup but certainly not vs. a Blue Jackets team that is averaging the second-least goals per game (2.33).
Kuemper stopped all 33 shots that he faced in the Coyotes shutout win over the Avalanche on Saturday. Kuemper has won two in a row and six of his last seven (6-1-0) while posting a 1.70 GAA, .941 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he faces an Oilers team that is 5-0-1 while averaging 3.83 goals per game on home-ice—a drastic difference from their 2.33 GF/gm on the road.
Dumoulin missed Sunday's practice to be with his wife as they are expecting the birth of their first baby, but he is expected to play on Monday. Dumoulin has one goal, three assists and a plus-11 rating in 10 games this season.
Kuemper allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Coyotes win in Buffalo on Monday. Kuemper has been victorious in five of his last six starts while posting a 1.98 GAA and .929 SV%. He has simply been one of the best goalies in the NHL since the middle of last season and is a solid option against an Avalanche team without 2/3 of their top-line. Kuemper comes in at 2-1-0 with a 1.34 GAA and .955 SV% on home-ice.
Fiala missed three games with a lower-body injury and was a healthy scratch in Dallas last night but will replace Ryan Donato on the fourth line on Wednesday. He has just one assist in seven games this season.
Dumoulin is a game-time decision but being activated is a clear sign that he will be back in the Penguins lineup on Tuesday night. Dumoulin plays big minutes (21:19 ATOI) but has just three assists and 12 shots on goal in eight games this season.
Fiala is healthy enough to return from his three-game absence due to a lower-body injury but will sit out for at least one more game. Ryan Donato was originally expected to be scratched but he'll remain in the lineup in Dallas.
Hicketts is the Griffins leading defenseman and is fourth on the team in points with seven assists in eight games this season. Tonight will be his season debut but his 17th career NHL game. Hicketts is expected to replace Madison Bowey in the lineup and will skate with Mike Green.
Hicketts has had a great start to his AHL season, picking up seven assists in his first eight games. The 23-year-old defenseman has three assists in 16 career NHL games and could make his season debut on Tuesday.
Dumoulin has missed the last four games with a lower-body issue but was a full participant in Monday’s practice. He is officially listed as a game-time decision for tomorrow’s game and would likely replace Jusso Riikola if he plays.
Kuemper allowed three goals on 21 shots in the Coyotes' loss to the Islanders last Thursday. It was the first time since March 21st (13 starts) that Kuemper has allowed more than two goals--a stretch where he was 7-5-2 with a 1.52 GAA, .949 SV% and two shutouts. Kuemper has been simply outstayed in the 2019 calendar year, ranking third in all major goalie categories--wins (26), GAA (2.02), SV% (.933) and shutouts (5).
Armia has missed the last two games with a lower-body issue but was back on the ice at practice on Wednesday and should play Thursday. Armia has recorded five points (4G / 1A) in seven games this season and is expected to play with Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin.
Kuemper allowed two goals on 19 shots in the Coyotes overtime win in New York on Tuesday. Kuemper continues to play outstanding hockey and has now won four in a row while posting a 1.75 GAA and .943 SV%. He is a must-start while he is playing well and draws a great matchup vs. an Islanders team that is averaging just 2.50 goals per game (24th in the NHL).
