Kuemper won't start in Thursday's home game against Calgary despite an earlier report to the contrary.
The Kings didn't specify why Kuemper isn't getting the start, but with the playoffs around the corner, they might just be resting him. He'll instead be the backup netminder, Thursday while David Rittich will get the nod. Kuemper has a 31-11-7 record, 2.02 GAA and .921 save percentage in 50 appearances this season.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Slated to start against Calgary
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Kuemper is expected to serve as the starting goalie for Thursday's home game against the Flames, John Hoven of SiriusXM NHL Network Radio reports.
Kuemper has picked up wins in six of his last seven appearances, going 6-1-0 with a 1.48 GAA and .942 save percentage. He got the night off Tuesday against the Kraken but will have a chance for a final tune-up before the playoffs Thursday. Kuemper started in Calgary on Nov. 11 and turned aside 25 of 27 shots (.926 save percentage) en route to a loss.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Strong vs. Edmonton
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Kuemper stopped the 16 shots he faced in Monday's 5-0 win over the Oilers.
Kuemper didn't have a lot of work throughout the game and cruised to his third straight win. However, he wasn't credited with a shutout because he was replaced by David Rittich midway through the third period. It doesn't appear that there was any injury-related reason for relieving Kuemper, so it seems the Kings were simply engaging in a bit of goalie workload management ahead of the playoffs. Kuemper is ending the regular season on a strong note and has won six of his previous seven starts, going 6-1-0 with a 1.48 GAA and an excellent .942 save percentage over that span.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Starting penultimate game
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Kuemper will guard the road cage Monday at Edmonton, Patrick O'Neal of Bally Sports West reports.
Kuemper will look for a rebound performance after allowing four goals in a loss to the Avalanche on Saturday. The four goals were the most he's allowed in a start since March 3 -- he went 15 games without allowing more than two goals. The Oilers will be without many key offensive pieces for this contest, so it's not a bad bet for a bounce-back performance. Kuemper will also get a good chance to get a look at some of the secondary shooters on the Kings' first-round playoff opponent.
Kuemper made 22 saves in a 5-4 win over Colorado on Saturday.
Despite uncharacteristic struggles in the defensive zone, the Kings still emerged victorious, but Kuemper's streak of starts allowing two goals or fewer ended at 15 games. Since the NHL expanded in 1967-68, Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff owns the longest streak at 16 games (2003-04), according to Dan Greenspan of NHL.com. Kuemper is having one of the best statistical seasons of his career. He's 30-11-7 with a 2.05 GAA and a .921 save percentage.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Facing Avalanche
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Kuemper will patrol the home crease against Colorado on Saturday, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Kuemper is coming off a 24-save effort in Thursday's 6-1 win over Anaheim. He has a 29-11-7 record with five shutouts, a 2.01 GAA and a .922 save percentage through 48 appearances this season. Colorado sits fifth in the league with 3.31 goals per game in 2024-25, but the team is resting several integral offensive contributors in Saturday's matchup.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Back to winning ways
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Kuemper stopped 24 of 25 shots in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Ducks.
This was Kuemper's 15th straight game allowing two or fewer goals, a span in which he is 11-3-1. He bounced back from Monday's narrow loss to the Kraken, which was just his third in regulation on home ice this year. Kuemper is up to 29-11-7 with a 2.01 GAA and a .922 save percentage over 48 appearances this season. The Kings are likely to end up running into the Oilers in the first round for a fourth straight year, and it'll be on Kuemper to help them avenge three straight series losses. Before that, the Kings have four regular-season games to get through, including a home matchup versus the Avalanche on Saturday.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Slated to start Thursday
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Kuemper is expected to guard the home crease versus Anaheim on Thursday, Russell Morgan of Hockey Royalty reports.
Kuemper has been sensational in his last 14 appearances, as he has not allowed more than two goals in any of those games. Kuemper is 10-3-1 with a 1.21 GAA and a .949 save percentage since March 5, giving him a 28-11-7 record with a 2.03 GAA and a .921 save percentage across 47 contests this season. The Ducks are generating 2.71 goals per game, which ranks 27th in the NHL.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Loses despite fine outing
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Kuemper stopped 26 of 28 shots in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Kraken.
Kuemper saw the end of his three-game winning streak despite delivering another solid showing. He's surrendered two or fewer goals in each of his past 14 outings. Since the beginning of March, Kuemper is 10-4-1 with an outstanding 1.40 GAA and .940 save percentage in 15 starts.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Blanks Oilers for fifth shutout
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Kuemper turned aside all 27 shots he faced in Saturday's 3-0 win over Edmonton.
The clean sheet was the fifth of the season for the 34-year-old netminder, tying his career high. Kuemper has revived his career behind the Kings' tight defensive system, and he's actually gotten better as the season has progressed. He's allowed two goals or fewer in 13 straight outings, going 10-2-1 with an eye-popping 1.15 GAA and .951 save percentage as Los Angeles gets ready for the playoffs.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Tending twine Saturday
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Kuemper will patrol the home crease against Edmonton on Saturday, according to Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Kuemper has won his last two outings, stopping 47 of 50 shots. He has a 27-10-7 record with four shutouts, a 2.08 GAA and a .920 save percentage through 45 appearances this season. Edmonton sits 11th in the league with 3.23 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Wins again Thursday
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Kuemper stopped 28 of 30 shots in Thursday's 4-2 win over Utah.
Kuemper had to be sharp for the first two-plus periods, and the Kings rewarded his strong play with two goals early in the third. He's won five of his last six outings, and this was his 12th straight outing allowing two or fewer goals. The 34-year-old netminder is 27-10-7 with a 2.08 GAA and a .919 save percentage over 45 appearances. The Kings' next game is a tough home matchup versus the Oilers on Saturday.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Slated to start Thursday
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Kuemper is expected to start on the road against Utah on Thursday, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Kuemper has been dominant lately, posting an 8-2-0 record, 1.10 GAA and .950 save percentage across his past 10 outings. That gives him a 26-10-7 record, 2.08 GAA and .918 save percentage through 34 appearances this season. This will be his third start against Utah in 2024-25 -- he won his previous two meetings while turning aside 49 of 54 shots (.907 save percentage).
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Set to face Jets
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Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider reports, indicating he will patrol the home crease against Winnipeg on Tuesday.
Kuemper has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 straight appearances, posting a 7-2-1 record with a .947 save percentage. He has gone 25-10-7 with four shutouts, a 2.10 GAA and a .918 save percentage through 43 starts this season. Winnipeg ranks third in the league with 3.45 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Strong play not enough
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Kuemper made 23 saves in a 3-1 loss to Toronto on Saturday.
He allowed two goals. Kuemper has been instrumental in the Kings' success this season. He has been their go-to guy, and he's helped set the backbone for a franchise-record 15-game home point streak (12-0-3). Los Angeles hasn't lost in regulation since Jan. 20 against the Pens. Overall, Kuemper is 25-10-7 with four shutouts, a 2.10 GAA and a .919 save percentage. He's been an outstanding fit in La-La-Land.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Expected to face Toronto
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Kuemper is expected to start at home against Toronto on Saturday, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Kuemper has a 7-1-0 record, 1.00 GAA and .954 save percentage across his past eight appearances. He'll try to keep his hot play alive against a Maple Leafs team that ranks seventh in goals per game with 3.26 this season. Kuemper has a 25-9-7 record, 2.10 GAA and .918 save percentage in 42 outings in 2024-25.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Stays hot in win
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Kuemper saved 22 of 23 shots in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Rangers.
Kuemper is 7-1-1 over his last nine games, and he hasn't allowed more than two goals in any of those outings. The 34-year-old netminder gave up a goal to J.T. Miller early in the second period, but the Kings cashed in twice on the power play to take the lead before the end of that frame. Kuemper is now 25-9-7 on the year with a 2.10 GAA and a .918 save percentage through 42 outings. His numbers are good enough for dark-horse Vezina Trophy consideration, though injuries early in the year mean he doesn't have the same workload as some of the league's other top goalies. The Kings will be tested in their next game when they visit the Avalanche on Thursday.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Set to face Rangers
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After being the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate, Kuemper is expected to patrol the home crease against the Rangers on Tuesday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
Kuemper has won six of his last seven outings (6-1-0), stopping 143 of 150 shots. He has a 24-9-7 record with four shutouts, a 2.13 GAA and a .917 save percentage across 41 appearances this season. The Rangers have netted 2.99 goals per game in 2024-25, tying the team for 14th in the league.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Little work to do in win
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Kuemper stopped 11 of 13 shots in Sunday's 7-2 win over the Bruins.
Kuemper didn't paint a Picasso between the pipes, but he didn't have to with the Kings' offense putting up seven goals for a second straight game. The 34-year-old has won six of his last seven outings, allowed a total of seven goals in that span. For the season, he's up to 24-9-7 with a 2.13 GAA and a .917 save percentage over 41 appearances. He won't get many easy matchups like this one -- the Kings host the Rangers on Tuesday for their next game, which should present more of a challenge.
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Kings' Darcy Kuemper: Drawing home start
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Kuemper will patrol the home crease against the Bruins on Sunday, according to Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
Kuemper will start in the second half of a back-to-back after David Rittich was in goal for Saturday's 7-2 win over the Hurricanes. Kuemper has been locked in over his last six outings, earning a 5-1-0 record, .964 save percentage and 0.83 GAA. The Bruins also played Saturday -- they struggled to generate offense in a 3-1 loss to the Sharks. Kuemper is a strong play for this home matchup.
