Capitals Recall Hunter Shepard From Hershey To Help Fill In For Kuemper

The Washington Capitals had to make a call-up from the AHL’s Hershey Bears with Darcy Kuemper suffering an upper-body injury against the Calgary Flames on Saturday, and they’re going with the reigning AHL goaltender of the month in Hunter Shepard.

Washington recalled Shepard from the Bears on Sunday, electing to pull him up over Zach Fucale, who was arguably higher on the depth chart going into the season. However, Shepard has been stellar in what marks his first full season at the AHL level, boasting a 6-0-2 record with a .932 save percentage and 1.86 GAA through eight games. Fucale has had a strong season too with a 8-4-0 record, .912 SV% and 2.00 GAA.

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Kuemper left late in the second period of Saturday’s game after taking an elbow to the head from Tyler Toffoli. He exchanged slashes with the Flames forward before pulling himself out of the game, as he didn’t feel right and couldn’t continue. Charlie Lindgren took over the crease and will likely be thrown into the No. 1 role with Kuemper out. The 27-year-old rookie is 2-3-2 with a .890 SV% and 3.51 GAA through eight games. He has come in clutch on multiple occasions this season.

Per head coach Peter Laviolette, Kuemper is day-to-day.

Shepard earned a deal from the Capitals following a stellar career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth that saw him wear the “C” and break multiple NCAA records.