Head coach Peter Laviolette announced prior to the Washington Capitals’ game vs. the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Sunday (1 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally, NHL Network nationally) that Darcy Kuemper will start in net just 24 hours after the 32-year-old made 23 saves (.885 save percentage) in a 6-3 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Kuemper is 17-18-4 with a .912 save percentage, 2.69 goals-against average, and five shutouts in 40 games during his first season in Washington.
Sunday will mark the first time this season that Kuemper will make appearances on consecutive days this season.
Kuemper starts for #Caps today, 1st time team has gone with same starter in both ends of back-to-back in ’22-23.
Kuemper career day games: 18-9-3 with seven SO, 1.83/.937 in 32 games (30 starts).
Kuemper career 0 days rest: 8-3-0 with two SO, 1.60/.948 in 12 games (10 starts).
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) February 26, 2023
Sunday’s game will be huge for Washington (who has played 61 games this season) and Buffalo (57), who are both tied with the Detroit Red Wings (58) and Florida Panthers (61), for the third wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, just a point the Pittsburgh Penguins (58).
Lukkonen starts in net for Buffalo this afternoon vs. #Caps.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) February 26, 2023
Washington will have two days off after Sunday before their four-game road trip continues against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Wednesday.
By Harrison Brown
Well, this is a loud statement.
That’s a bold strategy cotton
Charlie has not been good, since Darcy came back from injury. Mildly surprising, but not a jaw dropper.
And it does make sense. Just go all out for that wild card spot. Ride the hot hand.
This scouting report is correct. 👆
I don’t think any of the front running teams wants to play Buffalo in the 1st round. They’re a handful. Thompson is the real deal, and they have two #1 caliber defensemen in Power and Dahlin. I expect Carolina and Boston are rooting for us to sew up that WC.
Don’t feel too bad about losing to Anaheim the other night. They beat Carolina last night. The ol’ “got nothing to lose, so empty the tank” deal