After dealing with an equipment issue to start the second period of game one of the Western Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Darcy Kuemper left the game mid-way through the second period, appearing to be injured (link). Kuemper was replaced by Pavel Francouz in net after the former had gone to the dressing room. According to TNT’s broadcast of the game, Kuemper’s return to this game is considered doubtful, Kuemper having an upper-body injury.
Francouz entering the game marks the fourth goaltender used in this game between the two teams, Edmonton pulling Mike Smith after Colorado scored its sixth goal, replacing him with Mikko Koskinen. This isn’t Francouz’s first action or Kuemper’s first departure of the postseason, as Kuemper was forced to leave game three of Colorado’s first round series against the Nashville Predators after Ryan Johansen’s stick blade appeared to go through his mask and hit him in his eye. Francouz would replace Kuemper then, starting in the series-clinching game four as well, with Kuemper returning for the start of the second round against the St. Louis Blues.
Colorado acquired Kuemper this past offseason to replace the outgoing Philipp Grubauer, who signed with the Seattle Kraken. The new Avalanche goaltender had a solid first season in Colorado, posting a .921 save-percentage and 2.54 goals-against average in 57 regular season games. Despite solid numbers in the playoffs coming into tonight, including a .907 save-percentage and 2.44 goals-against average in nine games, Kuemper has appeared to be shaky at times, including three goals surrendered to the Oilers in the first half of tonight’s game before leaving with injury.
Thus far, the seriousness of Kuemper’s injury is not yet apparent, and there is the potential that the equipment trouble he was dealing with to start the period necessitated him leaving the game altogether. Colorado’s starting netminder had visited the bench several times between whistles in the second period before exiting. Still not an ideal situation, an equipment malfunction would certainly be the preferred outcome for Colorado, who still has two series to win in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
There goes Colorado hopes, Smith is awful for Edmonton but still a better alternative than Francouz.
Might turn into a francouz and koskinen show
In the words of my former college roommate, “Only, no.” Francouz is a perfectly cromulent option as a backup and at least as good as Smith, I actually think a little better.
“Cromulent” – telling use of language. Your screen name is f****** disgraceful.
Nah. Francouz is better than Kuemper right now. Kuemper has been pretty bad since the playoffs started.
Francouz mostly got the call on off nights against 2nd rate teams, expecting the same results in the Conference Finals and SC Finals is beyond optimistic. He might help the Avs win the close ones 6-4 but isn’t going to steal any Ws.
Yeah, but the exact same could be said about Kuemper. I think the Avs know they’re not going to win any 1-0 games. I think their plan is to keep putting up around 50 SOG every game.
Great
Take the over every game
Just score 8 goals a game…..you’ll be fine! :D
David Poile, are you taking note of the kind of offense both the western conference semi-finalists have? Probably not. :/
Nice to see Francouz prove me wrong in Game 2, hope he maintains it though.