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Los Angeles Kings News
Darcy Kuemper will start Wednesday vs. Buffalo.

Several minor injuries tied in with the strong play of Charlie Lindgren have limited Kuemper to only one start since November 2nd, but he will return to the create on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Kuemper has struggled this season, posting an uncharacteristic 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% through eight games (3-3-2), and has historically been poor against the Sabres with a 3.69 GAA and .878 SV% in seven career meetings (3-2-1). That said, the Capitals have won four straight and are -120 home favourites against a Sabres team that will again be without Tage Thompson (upper-body).

Darcy Kuemper
Darcy Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice at Washington's morning skate.

Several minor injuries tied in with the strong play of Charlie Lindgren have limited Kuemper to only one start since November 2nd, but he will likely return to the create on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Kuemper has struggled this season, posting an uncharacteristic 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% through eight games (3-3-2), and has historically been poor against the Sabres with a 3.69 GAA and .878 SV% in seven career meetings (3-2-1). That said, the Capitals have won four straight and are -120 home favourites against a Sabres team that will again be without Tage Thompson (upper-body).

Darcy Kuemper
Copley will start in Arizona on Monday.

Copley, widely believed to be a time-share goalie with Cam Talbot at the beginning of the season, will start for only the second time since the end of October on Monday. Oddly enough, of Copley's four starts this season, two have been against the Arizona Coyotes, who the Kings will face on Monday. In his first contest against the Coyotes, Copley was serviceable, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 6-3 victory, followed up by allowing three goals on six shots (.500 SV%) before being relieved by Talbot, who salvaged an eventual 5-4 victory for the Kings. Even with Copley between the pipes, the Kings are -144 road favourites against a Coyotes team that will be without their top-line center, Barret Hayton.

Pheonix Copley
Pheonix Copley is in the starter's net at the Kings' morning skate.

Copley, widely believed to be a time-share goalie with Cam Talbot at the beginning of the season, will likely start for only the second time since the end of October on Monday. Oddly enough, of Copley's four starts this season, two have been against the Arizona Coyotes, who the Kings will face on Monday. In his first contest against the Coyotes, Copley was serviceable, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 6-3 victory, followed up by allowing three goals on six shots (.500 SV%) before being relieved by Talbot, who salvaged an eventual 5-4 victory for the Kings. Even with Copley between the pipes, the Kings are -144 road favourites against a Coyotes team that will be without their top-line center, Barret Hayton.

Pheonix Copley
Los Angeles has signed Koehn Ziemmer to a three-year, $2.625 million entry-level contract.

Ziemmer was Los Angeles 2023 third-round pick (78th overall) and has signed a three-year, $2.625 million entry-level contract Friday. The 18-year-old right-winger his having an excellent third season in Prince George (WHL), as he has seven goals, 24 points, six PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 16 games played.

Andrei Kuzmenko (upper body) will be a game-time decision Saturday vs. Seattle.

Kuzmenko exited the game in the third period in obvious discomfort on Wednesday after taking a puck to the face against the New York Islanders and did not play Thursday vs. Calgary. The second-year NHLer has picked up where he left off the 2022-23 campaign, being consistent all season, potting 14 points (3G / 11A) in 16 games.

Andrei Kuzmenko
Andrei Kuzmenko (face) will be out Thursday vs. Calgary.

Kuzmenko exited the game in the third period in obvious discomfort on Wednesday after taking a puck to the face against the New York Islanders and will miss Thursday vs. Calgary. The second-year NHLer has picked up where he left off the 2022-23 campaign, being consistent all season, potting 14 points (3G / 11A) in 16 games.

Andrei Kuzmenko
Alex Laferriere will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Florida.

Laferriere has played all 14 games with the Kings this season, registering three points (2G / 1A) and 28 shots on goal. The first-year winger has most recently played on a line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Arthur Kaliyev and will be replaced by Jared Anderson-Dolan on Thursday.

Alex Laferriere
Andrei Kuzmenko (undisclosed) is a game-time decision Thursday vs. Calgary.

Kuzmenko exited the game in the third period in obvious discomfort on Wednesday after taking a puck to the face against the New York Islanders. The second-year NHLer has picked up where he left off the 2022-23 campaign, being consistent all season, potting 14 points (3G / 11A) in 16 games.

Andrei Kuzmenko
Darcy Kuemper left Washington's practice Wednesday with a lower-body injury.

Kuemper left practice in difficulty with an apparent lower-body injury on Wednesday. Kuemper had just returned to the lineup and served as the backup to Charlie Lindgren after not dressing for two games with an undisclosed injury. It is unclear at this time if Kuemper will miss any time. He has an uncharacteristically poor 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% through eight games this season (3-3-2).

Darcy Kuemper