The Washington Capitals are set for the second game of their four-game homestand against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.
After a 7-3 blowout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Spencer Carbery is changing things up in goal.
Veteran backstop Darcy Kuemper will start and be in net for just the second time in March. Charlie Lindgren, who has made the nine other starts in the month, allowed all seven Toronto goals on just 29 shots faced.
“Just based on the fact that Chuckie has played a lot of hockey over the last stretch,” Carbery said Friday. “Didn’t have his best the other night. Give him a breather and give Darcy an opportunity in a huge hockey game to help the group out.”
Lindgren had been stellar in March before having one of his worst appearances of the season. MoneyPuck had him allowing 4.56 more goals than expected in the loss which brings Kuemper back into the fray. Kuemper has started the team’s previous two matchups with Carolina this season, allowing six goals across two starts (1-1).
On the season, Kuemper has amassed a 13-13-3 record with a 3.29 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage — career worsts for the 33-year-old netminder.
The Hurricanes have scored four or more goals in seven of their last 10 games. They are currently involved in a battle with the New York Rangers for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Coming into Friday night, they sit two points back of the Rangers with 12 games remaining on their schedule
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