Darcy Kuemper will start the capitals for the first time since he was traded against Pierre-Luc Dubois on kings

The Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings will complete their season with two games on Thursday evening. The capitals took the first game from La 3: 1 in DC on December 22nd.

Former Capital's goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper He served as a backup by David Rittich in the defeat, but according to Zach Dooley of the king, he will start against Washington on Thursday. The start will be Kuemper's first against the capitals since it was traded to the kings Pierre-Luc dubois Last June.

Kuemper fought with the capitals in his second season last year. In the second season of the five-year contract of $ 26.25 million, which he signed at the club in 2022, Kuemper went with an average of 3.31 goals with 13-14-3 and a percentage of 0.890.

He finally lost his starting job Charlie LindgrenWho will be against the kings on the network of capitals. Lindgren took over the line and led the caps to an unlikely playoff picture despite their minus-37 goal difference.

“It was really hard with regard to hockey,” said Kuemper in June last year. “Sometimes it was really frustrating. Obviously we didn't win as many games as I would like and didn't play as much. It is always difficult to use. I just continued to work, and although I couldn't play a lot, I came to work every day and worked on my game. I am looking forward to the new beginning next year and I am currently playing again, as I like to play, and proves that last year only a unique and a few victories will achieve and help the team. “

So far, the 34-year-old Netminder has done exactly that with the Kings and achieved a 20-8-7 record with an average of 2.26 goals, a percentage of 0.915 and two shutouts. Kuemper saved 11 more goals than expected by Moneypuck this season, an improvement of 15.8 compared to the previous year.

The capitals will also have two former kings who have had their first appearances in LA since departure in the off -season. Dubois, who has eight points (3G, 5a) for the caps in six March games, only played for the Kings for a year, although they get an eight-year contract with the club under control as part of a contract with the Winnipeg Jets 2023.

Dubois talked about how a clear role from the first moment when he stepped on the ice for the kings hindered his only season in LA for the kings. He recorded only 40 points in 82 games last season (16, 24a). This season he has 40 templates alone with the caps in 65 games.

“Take it as you want, but I always had to have clear instructions to do my job 100 percent,” said Dubois last September. “I am confused when there are gray areas. I wonder too much. I've worked on it since I was young. And there, from my first conversations with the team, I didn't really know what was expected of me. I didn't know where I was. You cannot play well if you question too much. “

Matt Roy Will play his first game against the Kings because he spent every six previous years of his NHL career in LA before signing the caps in the free agency last July. Roy has recorded his offensive in the past few weeks and recorded 10 points (10A) in his last 15 games.

The kings have been hot lately and won three in a row to the game on Thursday evening. They are currently taking third place in the Pacific Division, one point of the Edmonton Oilers for second place with a game in their hands.