Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper exits game due to injury
Dec 19, 2019, 10:16 PM | Updated: 11:18 pm
Goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes in action during the third period of the NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Gila River Arena on November 27, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks 4-3 in an overtime shootout. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper exited Thursday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild due to an injury.
In the third period with under four minutes to go and Arizona down 7-5, Kuemper was in net when a Wild puck-handler was moving down the right side of the ice towards the net with a defender on his hip.
The shot was taken from the right circle, aiming to score on the far side. Kuemper extended and stretched out the right side of his body towards that part of the net to make the save and immediately went down to the ice.
Kuemper was visibly hurting, staying down belly-first for an extended period as trainers came out to talk to him. He took his time to get to his feet, where he was still clearly struggling. Kuemper looked to be avoiding putting any weight on his right side and still had trouble making his way through the tunnel.
Darcy Kuemper appears to be in a lot of pain and has gone to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/AZFHbamZRa
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) December 20, 2019
The 29-year-old has been the Coyotes’ most valuable player this season, entering the night ranking second in the NHL in both goals against average (1.97) and save percentage (.935).
Antti Raanta replaced Kuemper in a game that Arizona lost 8-5.
