The Coyotes wanted to get goaltender Darcy Kuemper heated up, but this isn’t what they had in mind.
Kuemper, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline, has been filling in for the injured Antti Raanta and has started the last four games for the Coyotes. But fresh off a shutout against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, Kuemper was running a fever that prevented him from skating ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Kings.
Interim head coach John MacLean, who is taking over duties with Rick Tocchet is on a leave of absence away from the team dealing with a family illness, said the Coyotes are nonetheless hoping Kuemper can start on Tuesday.