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