Darcy Kuemper injured in Kings’ loss to Avalanche – Daily News

By MICHAEL KELLY The Associated Press

DENVER – Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper left early in the third period with an undisclosed injury and the Kings lost 4-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.

Mikko Rantanen scored two goals in the third period, completing his ninth career hat trick for Colorado. Rantanen’s goal at 10:01 of the third period gave Colorado the lead, and he scored an unanswered goal with 1:59 left for his second hat trick of the season. Artturi Lehkonen also scored a goal and Alexandar Georgiev made 13 saves for the Avalanche.

Nathan MacKinnon, who had three assists, has at least one point in 16 of 17 games this season and all 10 home games.

Kuemper made 18 saves before taking a 5:19 lead into the final frame. David Rittich came into the game in relief and found himself in early trouble, which enabled Rantanen’s opening goal. Rittich finished with three saves.

Adrian Kempe scored two goals for the Kings, including one after 32 seconds. Lehkonen tied the score 3:40 into the first half, but Kempe scored after Colorado lost the ball 4:09 into the first half.

Rantanen equalized with 3:53 left in the second.

The Kings did not record a shot on goal in the second period, setting an NHL record for fewest shots in a period. The Kings had their first shot in more than 23 minutes at 55 seconds of the third period.

The starting gun rang out as Logan O’Connor battled two Kings players along the boards before MacKinnon retrieved the puck and backhanded it to Rantanen, who beat Rittich.