The Arizona Coyotes don’t have much to play for in their final game of the season, but it is significant for one particular player on the roster.
The Desert Dogs are set to host the Winnipeg Jets tonight and although they’ve already missed out on the playoffs, the game will provide backup goaltender Calvin Pickard with the opportunity to face the city in which he grew up in. Starter Darcy Kuemper played in 22 straight games heading into tonight, but after a long stretch seeing his friend cheer on from the bench, he figured it was time to give him one last start on the season between the pipes. Head coach Rick Tocchet appeared to have Kuemper lined up to start and later described the move as “very classy.”
What a beauty.
Okay, so maybe Kuemper could use the break? 22 games is a long stretch for any tendy and it’s not like the run went without its nicks and bruises. In a scary play against the LA Kings on Tuesday night, Kumper took forward Trevor Lewis’ stick to the eye and was forced to leave the game. Remarkably, he was able to come back the next game and stop 37/38 in a 4-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
Perhaps Kuemps is just trying to pay it forward after the Kings responded to his injury with a classy move of their own. They took to Twitter to wish their former goalie good health after the incident.
Given their injuries all season, Kuemper and the Coyotes can only keep their heads up heading into the summer. Pickard enters tonight’s contest with an 0-3 record with the Coyotes and a .896 save percentage.
(H/T Craig Morgan)
