Darcy Kuemper

Darcy Kuemper left Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference finals against Edmonton Oilers with upper-body injury.

For the second time in these NHL playoffs, Darcy Kuemper was forced from a game early tonight. Kuemper may have a tough time getting his starting job back even if he emerges healthy from this right away. He did not look good in the time he played, and he entered Game 1 with a .904 save percentage in the postseason – not a good percentage for a starting goalie.

It was a tough night for goalies in Game 1, as Oilers starter Mike Smith gave up six goals before being pulled in favour of Mikko Koskinen. Game 2 of the series ...

Colorado Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper left Game 1 against Edmonton in the second period on Tuesday night with an upper-body injury, and the team says he is doubtful to return. Colorado Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper left Game 1 against Edmonton in the second period on Tuesday night with an upper-body injury, and the team says he is doubtful to return.

The Avalanche and Oilers combined for 11 goals through the series' opening two periods.

The Athletic NHL Staff Smith was replaced in net by Mikko Koskinen. Both teams combined for 11 goals through the series' opening two periods, with the Avalanche holding a 7-4 lead after 40 minutes of play.

DENVER, CO - MAY 25: Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) tosses. Icon Sportswire / Getty. Share on Reddit.

Kuemper allowed three goals on 16 shots before exiting during the second period. Not long after he left, the Avalanche said Kuemper was doubtful to return due to an upper-body ailment. Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper didn't re-enter Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers after departing due to injury.

The 32-year-old will face arguably his toughest test yet in this round, as the the Oilers boast the playoffs' two leading scorers in Connor McDavid and Leon ...

- Avalanche's Darcy Kuemper: Not busy in win - Avalanche's Darcy Kuemper: Stops 18 shots in win Kuemper has gone 6-2 with a 2.44 GAA and a .904 save percentage in nine games, though he's only face 30 shots on three of those outings.

3 hours agoColorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper will face one of his favorite opponents in the Western Conference Finals. He has gone 10-2-4 against ...

Colorado's No. 1 also had a winning record in the matchup during the regular season this campaign, going 2-1-0 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Rookies & Call-Ups Articles & Tools

The Colorado Avalanche announced that goaltender Darcy Kuemper left and is doubtful to return to Game 1 of his team's Western Conference Final matchup ...

Thanks in part to his efforts, the Avs finished with a Western Conference-high 119 points. The 32-year-old Kuemper went 37-12-4 with a 2.54 GAA and .921 save percentage in his first year with the Avs. The 10-year NHL veteran played for the Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks before arriving in Colorado. The Colorado Avalanche announced that goaltender Darcy Kuemper left and is doubtful to return to Game 1 of his team's Western Conference Final matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday with an upper-body injury.

The Colorado Avalanche are up big in Game 1 but their goalie, Darcy Kuemper, left the game in the middle of the second period.

The team says he’s doubtful to return with an upper-body injury. Kuemper played, even making a big save when the Avs were only up 4-3, which led to a goal moments later for Colorado. Kuemper made 12 stops in the game after an up-and-down Round 2 performance against the Blues. The Avs starting netminder was injured when a stick hit him in the face during Round 1 against the Predators.

Avs coach Jared Bednar had no update on his goaltender after the win. "We'll see," was all Bednar said when asked if Kuemper's issue was day-to-day or something ...

We didn't get the kill, that was disappointing for us. When Cale Makar lit the lamp with just 13 seconds left in the first period, Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft challenged the play for being offside. "When you're on the bench halfway through the game, it's not a good sign," Smith said. "We didn't plan to play such a game," Francouz said, "but we'll take the win. The NHL's explanation for the goal standing was that Makar pushed the puck into the zone but didn't himself cross the blueline until Nichushkin had tagged up. We all know what kind of players are on these two teams and we didn't plan to play such a game, but we take this win for sure, and we move forward." Francouz hadn't been totally idle in the playoffs. That was already apparent in how Francouz fared coming off the bench. Kuemper's exit wasn't the only goalie drama in Game 1, either. Kuemper was late returning to the ice when the second period began, and then left for good at the first TV timeout. Backup Pavel Francouz backstopped Colorado the rest of the way in an 18-save performance. And he's coming off a terrific regular season (37-12-4, .921 SV%, 2.54 GAA) that helped Colorado gain strong positioning for the playoffs.