Kuemper stopped 21 of 23 shots in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Sharks.
Kuemper wasn't able to capitalize on a matchup with the only offense in the league weaker than the one he plays behind. The 33-year-old has allowed five goals on 50 shots over two games since returning from an undisclosed injury. He's now at a 4-4-2 record with a 2.95 GAA and an .894 save percentage through 10 contests. If Kuemper can't right the ship soon, Charlie Lindgren could carve out a larger share of the starts in goal. Both of them will likely start within the next two games, as the Capitals visit the Kings on Wednesday and the Ducks on Thursday in a back-to-back set.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: First off Monday
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Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, according to Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post, indicating he will start Monday's road contest against the Sharks.
Kuemper is coming off a 24-save effort in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win over Buffalo. In nine games this campaign, he has posted a 4-3-2 record with a 3.04 GAA and an .892 save percentage. The Sharks sit 32nd in the NHL this season with a mere 1.62 goals per contest.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Gets win in return from absence
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Kuemper (undisclosed) made 24 saves in a 4-3 overtime win over Buffalo on Wednesday.
He got the win, but his image will be plastered all over the plays of the week after Zach Benson scored his first NHL snipe on a highlight-reel, through-the-legs shot. Kuemper last played Nov. 8 and has been out since then with an undisclosed injury. The Caps have been hot, winning five straight with Charlie Lindgren performing well, so Kuemper will likely be eased in slowly.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Set to start Wednesday
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Kuemper (undisclosed) is slated to guard the home crease against Buffalo on Wednesday, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.
Kuemper hasn't been in net since Nov. 8 due to the injury. He has a 3-3-2 record, 3.07 GAA and .892 save percentage in eight contests this season. Buffalo is in a three-way tie for 23rd offensively with 2.83 goals per game and is playing without one of its top forwards in Tage Thompson (upper body).
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Good to go Saturday
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Kuemper (undisclosed) has been given a clean bill of health and is expected to get the start versus Columbus on Saturday, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.
Kuemper is 3-3-2 with a 3.07 GAA and .892 save percentage. The 33-year-old has missed the last three games -- he had to be helped off the ice at practice Thursday, but he returned to practice Friday and has been cleared to play. He will face the Blue Jackets, who are 27th in scoring, averaging 2.71 goals per game.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Returns to practice Friday
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Kuemper (undisclosed) was back at practice Friday, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
Kuemper was injured during practice Thursday and was helped off the ice. He has missed the last three games with an undisclosed injury, although he was healthy enough Tuesday to back up Charlie Lindgren. Kuemper is 3-3-2 with a 3.07 GAA and .892 save percentage, his worst peripherals since the 2016-17 season when he had a 3.13 GAA for the Wild in 18 games. Kuemper has never had a save percentage under .900 for a full season in his NHL career.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Injured at practice
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Kuemper needed to be helped to the locker room after getting hit with a shot at practice Wednesday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Kuemper had just returned from an undisclosed injury to serve as the backup versus Vegas on Tuesday and now finds himself potentially injured again. As long as it's nothing serious, Kuemper could still be available when the Capitals return to action against Columbus on Saturday. If Kuemper does miss more time, Charlie Lindgren figures to take on the starting role.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Suiting up Tuesday
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Kuemper (undisclosed) will be Charlie Lindgren's backup in Tuesday's home contest against Vegas, according to Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post.
Kuemper sat out the past two games after getting banged up in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to Florida. He has a 3-3-2 record this season with a 3.07 GAA and an .892 save percentage in eight appearances.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Remains out Saturday
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Kuemper (undisclosed) isn't ready to return for Saturday's road contest versus the Islanders.
Kuemper was last in net for Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to Florida. He has a 3-3-2 record, 3.07 GAA and .892 save percentage in eight contests this year. Hunter Shepard will be backed up by Charlie Lindgren in Saturday's contest.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Won't dress Friday
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Kuemper will not suit up against New Jersey on Friday after coach Spencer Carbery told reporters that Kuemper was "a little nicked up in the last game," Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports.
Kuemper's injury doesn't sound particularly serious, so he may return in time for the second of Washington's back-to-back versus the Islanders on Saturday. The Canadian backstop has given up three or more goals five times in eight games this season. In his stead, Charlie Lindgren will get the nod on the road against the Devils on Friday.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Loses in overtime
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Kuemper surrendered four goals on 25 shots in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Panthers.
Kuemper let leads of 1-0 and 3-2 slip away in this contest before Sam Reinhart won it for the Panthers 15 seconds into overtime. This was the first time in four starts Kuemper had allowed four or more goals. The 33-year-old slipped to 3-3-2 with a 3.07 GAA and an .892 save percentage through eight starts this season. The Capitals are on the road for a back-to-back Friday and Saturday, visiting the Devils and then the Islanders. Expect Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren to split those starts.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Slated to start
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Kuemper is set to guard the home crease Wednesday versus Florida, per Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network.
Kuemper will attempt to bounce back after stopping just 18 of 21 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Islanders on Thursday. He has a 3-3-1 record, 2.94 GAA and .899 save percentage in seven contests this season. The Panthers are tied for 22nd offensively with 2.82 goals per game this year.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Can't overcome queasy first frame
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Kuemper made 18 saves in a 3-0 loss to the Islanders on Thursday.
He likely wanted to wish the first period away -- the Isles had just two shots on goal and they scored on both. Kuemper is doing what he can this season, but the Capitals continue to struggle offensively and have been unable to stake him a lead. Kuemper's probably going to remain a tough play this season.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Starting versus Islanders
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Kuemper will protect the home goal versus the Islanders on Thursday, Ethan Sears of the New York Post reports.
Kuemper has bounced back from a poor start to the season, winning each of his last two starts. He's 3-2-1 with a 2.92 GAA and a .903 save percentage through six outings. The Islanders have scored 17 times over their last six games and continue to display an inconsistent offense.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Sharp in third win
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Kuemper made 30 saves in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Sharks.
The one goal that got past the netminder was the product of some bad luck -- a strange bounce off the end boards midway through the first period sent the puck to the opposite side of the net than Kuemper expected, and Luke Kunin was able to shovel it home over the scrambling netminder's pad. Kuemper didn't get rattled and shut San Jose down the rest of the way. Through six appearances, the 33-year-old sports a 3-2-1 record with a 2.92 GAA and .903 save percentage.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Starting Sunday
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Kuemper will patrol the home crease Sunday against the Sharks, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.
Kuemper is coming off a 39-save performance in Friday's 3-2 shootout win over Minnesota. He has a 2-2-1 record this season with a 3.29 GAA and an .890 save percentage through five games played. San Jose has scored only eight goals over eight games this campaign.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Sharp in shootout win
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Kuemper made 39 saves in regulation and overtime before denying all seven shootout attempts he faced in Friday's 3-2 win over the Wild.
The 33-year-old was locked in for most of the night, and the only two pucks to beat him came after defensive breakdowns by the Capitals. Kuemper hasn't been sharp overall to begin the season, going 2-2-1 with a 3.29 GAA and .890 save percentage in five starts, but this performance might be a sign he's finding his rhythm. He'll likely be back between the pipes Sunday against the Sharks.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Tending twine Friday
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Kuemper will get the start for Friday's home game against the Wild, Ethan Cadeaux of Monumental Sports Network reports.
Kuemper will look to give the Capitals their first win streak of the season following a thrilling 6-4 win against the Devils on Wednesday. The 33-year-old sports a 3.67 GAA and .868 save percentage behind a 1-2-1 record in four starts this season.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Needs to be a lot better
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Kuemper made 13 saves in a 4-1 loss to Toronto on Tuesday.
Kuemper needs to be better. There's no other way to put it. The Caps have scored only six regulation goals in five games this season, but at least they mustered 36 shots on Joseph Woll in Toronto's net. The Leafs didn't have a lot of shots, but they sure made the most of the ones they got. Kuemper was beaten far side by Morgan Rielly on a first period power play. Then John Tavares redirected a puck past him early in the second, and William Nylander roofed a puck after wheeling past defender Nick Jensen just 48 seconds later. Auston Matthews sealed the Leafs scoring with a one-timer on a power play later that frame. With the team's scoring struggles, Kuemper needs to perform at an elite level for the Caps to have a chance.
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Capitals' Darcy Kuemper: Guarding goal Tuesday
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Kuemper will patrol the home crease Tuesday versus Toronto, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.
Kuemper is coming off a 25-save effort in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal. He has given up nine goals in his past two outings (0-1-1) after starting the season with a brilliant 38-save performance in a 3-2 win over Calgary.
