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Stanley Cup-Winning Avalanche Goalie Is Making a Huge Comeback
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- Stanley Cup-Winning Avalanche Goalie Is Making a Huge Comeback
Not long ago, Darcy Kuemper couldn't seem to catch a break in Los Angeles.
Now, the former Avalanche goalie is stacking up wins and quieting some of the early-season concerns.
Kuemper picked up his third straight win Monday night, stopping 23 shots in the Kings' 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Los Angeles came out flying, scoring three times in the first period and chasing Rangers goalie James Reimer after just eight shots.
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Reimer, who had only just joined New York, had a night to forget. The Kings got to him early, and Dylan Garand came on in relief. By then, Los Angeles already had control of the game.
Kuemper had a little more work to do at the other end. He allowed one goal in each period, but the Kings kept finding the net and gave him enough support to close out the win.
Through his first four appearances, Kuemper had a 4.53 goals-against average and an .844 save percentage. Those numbers weren't doing him any favors, especially with the Kings struggling in large part to establish consistent offense.
Avalanche fans know Kuemper can handle the ups and downs. He helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2022, working through some difficult moments along the way. He wasn't perfect during that run, but he made the saves he needed to make and helped the Avs finish the job.
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The Kings could use that kind of stability now.
Three straight wins don't erase Kuemper's early struggles, but they give him something to build on. Los Angeles has had its share of problems this season, and one hot stretch from its goaltender won't fix everything. Still, getting better results in net can make a big difference.
Kuemper has given the Kings a reason to feel better about their goaltending. After the way his season began, that's a pretty good place to start.
