The Los Angeles Kings will have to keep their head above water in the Pacific without the help of their No. 1 goaltender.
Darcy Kuemper has been placed on the injured reserve after suffering an upper-body injury in a collision with Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen on Monday, the team announced Tuesday.
In a corresponding move, goaltender Pheonix Copley was recalled from the Ontario Reign — the Kings' American Hockey League affiliate.
The Kuemper incident happened in the first period as Rantanen was battling for position in front of the net. Rantanen appeared to make contact with Kuemper's head as he was skating above the crease.
The puck trickled over the ice, but the call was overturned as a result of goaltender interference. No other penalty was called.
Kuemper exited the game and was replaced by Anton Forsberg between the pipes.
The 35-year-old, who received his first Vezina Trophy finalist nod last season as the NHL's best goaltender, has continued to put up all-star performances between the pipes in his second season with the Kings. He has a 10-6-6 record with a .917 save percentage and 2.19 goals-against average.
Copley, meanwhile, has yet to make a start with the Kings this season since being acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning in October.
In 13 games in the AHL, the 33-year-old has a 7-6-0 record with a 3.13 GAA and .885 save percentage.
Since debuting in 2016 with the St. Louis Blues, the North Pole, Alaska, native has a 44-16-8 record with a 2.84 GAA and .898 save percentage, split between the Blues, Washington Capitals and Kings — with whom he played for three years before being claimed off waivers by the Lightning and subsequently traded back to Los Angeles.
The Kings are currently 14-9-9 and sit third in the Pacific Division.
0:59
