Kuemper (undisclosed) was designated for injured reserve Friday.
Kuemper's status hasn't been updated since he left Wednesday's matchup with Colorado due to his undisclosed injury, but this move will sideline him for at least the next two games. With the veteran netminder shelved, David Rittich figures to carry the load, while Erik Portillo was recalled from AHL Ontario.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Leaves game with injury
Rotowire
Kuemper (undisclosed) left Wednesday's game versus the Avalanche due to an injury sustained in the third period, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
Kuemper left with 15:28 left in the third period. He stopped 18 of 20 shots prior to his exit, and the game was tied at 2-2 when David Rittich took over between the pipes. Kuemper dealt with a lower-body injury earlier in the season, so there may be some concern he aggravated the issue. If Kuemper misses time, Pheonix Copley is likely to be called up from AHL Ontario prior to Saturday's game versus the Red Wings.
Kuemper is set to start on the road against Colorado on Wednesday, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Kuemper has a 4-2-3 record, 2.65 GAA and .899 save percentage over nine appearances in 2024-25. He's lost his last two starts, but he received just three goals worth of support over those two games while surrendering only five markers. The Avalanche rank 10th offensively with 3.44 goals per game and have won three of their past four matchups, with the lone exception being a defeat at hands of the 15-1-0 Jets. In other words, Kuemper has a challenging assignment ahead of him.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Tough loss in Calgary
Rotowire
Kuemper turned aside 25 of 27 shots in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Flames, with Calgary's final goal getting scored into an empty net.
The veteran netminder kept the Flames off the board in the first period, but Kuemper gave up two tallies in the second and the Kings' offense didn't show signs of life until late in the third. Kuemper has allowed three goals or fewer in six straight starts, going 3-2-1 with a 2.17 GAA and .906 save percentage. He's enjoying life in Los Angeles' stingy scheme -- Monday's 27 shots were the most he's faced during that six-start stretch.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Set to face Flames
Rotowire
Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports, indicating he will guard the road goal Monday versus Calgary.
Kuemper has one victory over his last three outings (1-1-1), stopping 53 of 59 shots and earning a shutout despite posting an .898 save percentage. He has a 4-1-3 record with a 2.72 GAA and an .896 save percentage through eight appearances this season. Calgary ranks 20th in the league with 2.80 goals per game in 2024-25.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Falls to Canucks
Rotowire
Kuemper stopped 19 of 22 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Canucks. The fourth goal was an empty-netter
The Kings knocked in the first goal against Kuemper themselves, but he wasn't sharp enough against a division foe. It was his first regulation loss of the season, though his team's defensive structure hasn't helped to make his numbers look better. Kuemper is now 4-1-3 with a 2.72 GAA and an .896 save percentage over eight starts. The Kings host the Blue Jackets on Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Exits ice first Thursday
Rotowire
Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice Thursday, Russell Morgan of Hockey Royalty reports, indicating he'll guard the home cage against Vancouver.
Kuemper is undefeated in regulation over his last six outings, posting a 3-0-3 record, 2.94 GAA and .885 save percentage. As long as he continues to secure points for his team, the veteran netminder should see the bulk of the workload moving forward, relegating David Rittich firmly to the No. 2 role.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Blanks Preds on Monday
Rotowire
Kuemper made 16 saves in Monday's 3-0 win over Nashville.
The Kings' defense was at peak stinginess, allowing only three shots in the third period, and Kuemper took care of the rest. It's the first shutout of the season for the veteran netminder. Since returning in late October from a lower-body injury, Kuemper has looked sharp, going 3-0-1 over his last four starts with a 1.97 GAA and a .910 save percentage.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Set to start Monday
Rotowire
Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Jared Shafran of LA Kings Insider reports, indicating he will defend the road net Monday versus Nashville.
Kuemper is coming off an 18-save effort in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to Chicago. He has a 3-0-3 record with a 3.11 GAA and an .890 save percentage through six outings this season. Nashville is tied for 25th in the league with 2.64 goals per game in 2024-25.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Late collapse against Chicago
Rotowire
Kuemper made 18 saves in regulation and overtime and failed to make a stop on three shootout attempts in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Chicago.
He appeared to be in complete control as he took a shutout into the third period, but things fell apart for Kuemper when a seemingly harmless Nick Foligno shot early in the final frame trickled through his legs, and the 34-year-old goalie then swept it into the net himself when he reached back to find it. Kuemper's day ended with an 0-for-3 showing in the shootout, which was capped by Ryan Donato deking him out of his shorts for the winner. Kuemper still has yet to take a regulation loss this season, going 3-0-3 in six starts, but his 3.11 GAA and .890 save percentage could cause him to lose his grip on the No. 1 job -- which would be a repeat of his fate in 2023-24 with the Capitals.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Facing Chicago
Rotowire
Kuemper will patrol the home crease Saturday against the Blackhawks, according to Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Kuemper has won his last two outings, including a 23-save effort in a 6-3 victory over Vegas on Wednesday. He has a 3-0-2 record with a 3.16 GAA and an .895 save percentage in five appearances this campaign. Chicago sits 26th in the league with 2.64 goals per game in 2024-25.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Defeats Vegas
Rotowire
Kuemper stopped 23 of 26 shots in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Golden Knights.
Kuemper was able to extend the Golden Knights' road woes, sending them to their fourth straight road loss (0-3-1) of the year. The 34-year-old netminder has allowed five goals on 52 shots over two starts since he returned from a lower-body injury. Kuemper still looks set to be eased into the No. 1 job again -- the Kings play at home Saturday versus the Blackhawks before a road back-to-back in Nashville on Monday and Minnesota on Tuesday. Kuemper is 3-0-2 with a 3.16 GAA and an .895 save percentage through five starts this season.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Tending twine Wednesday
Rotowire
Kuemper will start at home versus the Golden Knights on Wednesday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
Kuemper won his return from a lower-body injury, stopping 24 of 26 shots against Utah on Saturday. He'll draw a tough start Wednesday, though the Golden Knights have yet to win away from home (0-2-1).
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Wins in first game back from injury
Rotowire
Kuemper made 23 saves in a 3-2 win Saturday over Utah.
Kuemper hadn't played since Oct. 14 due to a lower-body injury. He's 2-0-2 with a 3.20 GAA and .890 save percentage, but those ratios were inflated when he allowed eight goals on 41 shots in a wild 8-7 overtime loss to Ottawa. Kuemper is a guy who should excel behind a defensive team-first system in LA. Get him back in your blue paint.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Activated Thursday
Rotowire
Kuemper (lower body) was removed from injured reserve Thursday.
Kuemper won't start Thursday versus the Sharks -- David Rittich will be in net against the last winless team in the league this season. However, Kuemper should take over as the No. 1 netminder going forward, beginning with Saturday's home game versus Utah. He went 1-0-2 with 11 goals allowed on 100 shots over three appearances of the season before missing the next four contests.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Put on injured reserve
Rotowire
Kuemper (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday by the Kings.
Kuemper won't be eligible to play in Sunday's road game against Anaheim, but he could be an option for Tuesday's clash in Vegas, provided he's healthy. David Rittich has appeared in each of LA's past two games, and he'll likely continue to be leaned on heavily until Kuemper is ready to play.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Not suiting up Thursday
Rotowire
Kuemper (lower body) won't play Thursday versus the Canadiens, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
David Rittich will start and Pheonix Copley will against back him up as Kuemper sits out a second straight game. The 34-year-old Kuemper's next chance to play is Sunday in Anaheim.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Ruled out Wednesday
Rotowire
Kuemper is dealing with a lower-body injury that will sideline him against Toronto on Wednesday, Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period reports.
While head coach Jim Hiller described Kuemper as day-to-day, he probably should be considered doubtful to start against Montreal on Thursday in the second half of a back-to-back. With David Rittich taking the first game versus the Leafs, that would potentially open the door for Pheonix Copley to get the nod Thursday. After a decent first two games to open the 2024-25 campaign, the 34-year-old Kuemper was absolutely rocked by Ottawa on Monday, giving up eight goals on 41 shots (.805 save percentage) -- though he still earned his team a point with the overtime defeat.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Stuck with wild OT loss
Rotowire
Kuemper made 33 saves on 41 shots in Monday's 8-7 overtime loss to the Senators.
The two teams combined for seven power-play goals, making it a miserable afternoon for both Kuemper and the two Ottawa goalies that saw action, Anton Forsberg and Mads Sogaard. Kuemper had given up just three goals on 59 shots in his first two appearances of the season, so while his ratios could look ugly for a while, his spot at the top of the Kings' depth chart likely isn't in any jeopardy.
... See More... See Less
Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Allows two goals in overtime loss
Rotowire
Kuemper stopped 23 of 25 shots in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to Boston.
Kuemper has been superb to begin the 2024-25 campaign following the worst showing of his NHL career last season. As a member of the Kings this year, he has permitted only three goals on 58 shots through two starts. The Kings may go back to Kuemper on Monday in Ottawa.
