ARIZONA COYOTES
Coyotes’ goaltender Darcy Kuemper assigned to Tucson for conditioning
Feb 22, 2020, 11:34 AM | Updated: 5:22 pm
Goaltender Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of the NHL game against the Nashville Predators at Gila River Arena on October 17, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper is getting closer to returning from an injury as he was assigned to the club’s AHL affiliate, Tucson Roadrunners, for conditioning, the team announced on Saturday morning.
Kuemper has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 19.
He was expected to return for the game on Feb. 10, but suffered an injury pre-game.
Prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Lighting on Feb. 22, head coach Rick Tocchet said Kuemper is a “possibility” for the game against the Florida Panthers on Feb. 25.
“Kuemps is a possibility for the next game, so that’s good news.”
Coach Tocchet provides injury updates and previews #TBLvsARI: pic.twitter.com/oiKfOB65Gj
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 22, 2020
The 29-year-old holds a 15-8 record this season and a save percentage of .929 with a goals against average of 2.17.
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The injury has hit the brakes on what was shaping up to be a stellar season for Kuemper, as he was selected to his first All-Star game and was a frontrunner for the Vezina Trophy before suffering the injury.
In his absence, the Coyotes have gone 9-13-4 and slumped to fifth in the Pacific division.
Arizona trails the Las Vegas Golden Knights by four points for the top spot in the Pacific division and is tied with the Calgary Flames for second in the Wild Card, one point behind the Winnipeg Jets.
