NASHVILLE — Darcy Kuemper wasn’t made to be had to newshounds Sunday for the reason that Avalanche goalie hasn’t been cleared to play in Recreation 4 on Monday in opposition to the Nashville Predators.
Kuemper, on the other hand, will unquestionably play once more this postseason after escaping what may have been a significant eye harm in Colorado’s 7-3 victory in Recreation 3 on Saturday at Bridgestone Area.
Kuemper, who had the blade of Preds ahead Ryan Johansen poke via his masks and into his face overdue within the first length, has in depth swelling round his proper eye however no severe direct injury to it, Avs trainer Jared Bednar mentioned sooner than Sunday’s not obligatory follow.
Kuemper used to be later observed within the hallway outdoor the dressing and it appeared as although his eye used to be swollen close. However he used to be in just right spirits and Bednar mentioned if the swelling decreases he may get started or no less than again up Pavel Francouz on Monday when the Avs try to sweep the Western Convention first-round sequence.
As a precaution, the Avs recalled goalie Justus Annunen from the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. They’re additionally sporting follow goalie Hunter Miska.
“Unfortunate incident,” Bednar mentioned of Johansen’s errant stick. “I’ve never seen it before; when you see a player going out holding their eye you’re always worried about it regardless of what team they’re on. So luckily he’s doing good and he doesn’t have any complications except for the swelling.”
“That’s scary stuff,” Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog instructed The Put up outdoor the locker room. “You know, shoulders are one thing, a knee is another thing, but your eyes, that’s a scary thing. We’re lucky. It could have been a lot worse. We’re fortunate we got some good news out of it.”
Johansen confirmed regret on Sunday for his errant stick that went unpenalized. Replays confirmed he leaned into his stick whilst it used to be lodged in Kuemper’s masks, however it would had been herbal motion from combating for place with Nathan MacKinnon in entrance of the crease.
“Got real sick to my stomach there, just from looking back and seeing him skating to the bench and then dropping,” Johansen instructed newshounds.
“It’s not a good feeling. Obviously, I hope everyone knows there was zero intention of, ever, something like that happening. Just a freak accident. Definitely put a smile on my face, hearing that it could just be a little scratch and some swelling. So I was really happy to hear that. I didn’t like seeing him go down.”
Footnotes. Bednar, consistent with standard, declined to speak about any imaginable lineup adjustments for Recreation 4. The Avs may have a morning skate at Bridgestone Area. … Colorado’s 4 power-play objectives in Recreation 3 had been one shy of the membership playoff file of 5 set on April 24, 1997, in opposition to the Blackhawks. The Avs are 6-for-14 (42.9%) at the persistent play within the sequence. … Colorado is 5-0 in a chain when successful the primary 3 video games. … MacKinnon has a series-high 4 objectives and has scored in every of the 3 video games, changing into the primary Avalanche participant to start out the playoffs with a three-game objective streak since Claude Lemieux from April 16-20, 1997. Cale Makar had 3 assists in Recreation 3, expanding his profession points-per-game moderate to one.00, the fourth-highest all-time amongst NHL defensemen (min. 15 GP) in the back of Corridor of Famers Bobby Orr (1.24), Brian Leetch (1.02) and Paul Coffey (1.01).
