Colorado Avalanche

Nashville Predators' Ryan Johansen had an emotional reaction after accidentally injuring Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper in Game 3.

He raised his stick in the air and accidentally caught Kemper inside his face mask. There didn’t appear to be any intent from Johansen to hit Kuemper inside the mask, and his words afterward all but confirm this incident was an unfortunate accident. Kuemper could be seen covering his face as he writhed on the ice, visibly in discomfort following the hit.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper could be an option for Monday's Game 4 after leaving Saturday's game against the Nashville Predators with an eye ...

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper could be an option for Monday's Game 4 after leaving Saturday's game against the Nashville Predators with an eye injury, head coach Jared Bednar said. Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper could be an option for Monday's Game 4 after leaving Saturday's game against the Nashville Predators with an eye injury, head coach Jared Bednar said. Could be an option for tomorrow.

Nashville Predators' Ryan Johansen glad Colorado Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper OK after taking stick to face.

"We just have to come in and try to play our best game. Johansen said he wasn't aware at first that his stick caused the injury. Predators coach John Hynes said Sunday that All-Star goalie Juuse Saros would not play in Game 4. "It's not a good feeling. "Got real sick to my stomach, just from looking back and seeing him skating to the bench and then dropping again," Johansen said. Kuemper began to skate toward the bench before collapsing.

The Colorado Avalanche have announced that they have recalled goaltender Justus Annunen from their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.

He has a .893 save percentage in 48 games at the AHL level and has gotten into two NHL games this season, where he has a .863 mark. Annunen, 22, was the 64th overall pick in the 2018 draft and has been the team’s AHL starting goalie for most of this season. Although coach Jared Bednar said after the game that Kuemper was “doing better” and had a chance to play in game four, the recall of Annunen indicates that Kuemper is not 100% certain to return for tomorrow’s contest.

The Colorado Avalanche picked up a win in Game 3 to take a 3-0 series lead, but goaltender Darcy Kuemper was injured in the process.

In relief, Francouz stopped 18 of the 20 shots that he faced. For Colorado, the loss of its starting goaltender did not sink the team in Saturday’s game. The contact appeared to be completely incidental, but the toe of a stick managed to sneak through his mask.

Darcy Kuemper wasn't made available to reporters on Sunday because the Avalanche goalie hasn't been cleared to play in Game 4 on Monday against the ...

… MacKinnon has a series-high four goals and has scored in each of the three games, becoming the first Avalanche player to begin the playoffs with a three-game goal streak since Claude Lemieux from April 16-20, 1997. The Avs will have a morning skate at Bridgestone Arena. … Colorado’s four power-play goals in Game 3 were one shy of the club playoff record of five set on April 24, 1997, against the Blackhawks. The Avs are 6-for-14 (42.9%) on the power play in the series. … Colorado is 5-0 in a series when winning the first three games. But he was in good spirits and Bednar said if the swelling decreases he could start or at least back up Pavel Francouz on Monday when the Avs attempt to sweep the Western Conference first-round series. “That’s scary stuff,” Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog told The Post outside the locker room. “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.