Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery made the decision to start Darcy Kuemper over Vitek Vanecek against the Carolina Hurricanes. Carbery cited Kuemper's recent workload and performance as reasons for the change. Kuemper struggled in the game, leading to criticism from fans and analysts. Carbery explained that the goalie change was necessary to shift momentum and support the team.
Spencer Carbery said it wasn’t an easy decision to pull Darcy Kuemper but he felt he had to do something. “I just felt like at that point the group was extremely deflated… with the amount of goals that were going in, I just feel like it wasn’t Darcy’s night.” #ALLCAPS
Carbery on the goalie change: “It’s not a decision I take lightly, to take Kuemps out there. But with the amount of goals that were going in…I felt like it wasn’t Darce’s night and we needed to change momentum somehow, someway going into that third period.” #ALLCAPS
Darcy Kuemper has to go. Horribly soft goals tonight. Caps can't have this. #ALLCAPS
Carbery said decision to start Kuemper vs. Canes tonight was "Just based on the fact that Chucky’s played a lot of hockey over the last stretch & didn’t have his best the other night. Give him a breather and give Darc an opportunity in a huge hockey game to help the group out.”
Carbery on starting Kuemper vs. CAR: “Just based on the fact Chucky has played a lot of hockey over the last stretch and didn’t have his best the other night. Give him a breather and give Darce an opportunity in a huge hockey game to help the group out.” #ALLCAPS