Stud: Darcy Kuemper, G
Last night was a matchup of two former Vezina Trophy finalists this past season, Connor Hellebuyck and Kuemper for the Kings in net yesterday. Kuemper got the best of this battle against Hellebuyck and the Jets. He registered the season's first shutout, and the 37th of his career for the Kings last night vs. Winnipeg.
Kuemper and the Kings did catch a break with a call that went their way in the game's first period last night. The referee pretty quickly waived off the goal, saying that the Jets interfered with Kuemper in the crease, and calling goalie interference. This adds to the controversial set of goal reviews and goals negated from referees and Toronto in the NHL early this regular season.
That said, it looks like the league and the referees and being more consistent with calling goalie interference with more scrupulous eyes early this regular season.
After the Kings got less than stellar goaltending in recent games in losses to the Devils from New Jersey and the Red Wings this past week to start this homestand, Kuemper answered any questions regarding his ability to keep pucks out of the net for LA yesterday for the Kings.
"I thought Hellebuyck played really well but Kuemps gets the shutout in the end and he made three or four that I thought were really important saves. He did his job, and it’s up and down the lineup tonight. Everyone did their part and it’s a hard game against a really good team. There’s not a lot of room out there either way so you might come up relatively empty on the scoresheet but that doesn’t mean you didn’t play well."Jim Hiller on Darcy Kuemper
We'll see if Kuemper can continue to show why he's considered one of the top five or 10 goalies in the league in the NHL when the Kings round out the four-game homestand at Crypto Arena on Thursday night (Nov. 6).