Wild's Kuemper: 'I need to get the shutout for my own sanity'
Minnesota Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper really wanted the shutout on Saturday.
No, not just for the individual statistics, ego or even a team win, but for something Kuemper joked was far more important. The 25-year-old Saskatchewan native revealed precisely what that was to reporters after he made 25 saves in Minnesota's 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Playing in place of an injured Devan Dubnyk, Kuemper (2-0-4) has come close to victory in each of his last two outings before a lack of offense has proven to be his downfall in a pair of 2-1 overtime setbacks.
The Wild once again were struggling offensively on Saturday before Zach Parise opened the scoring 4:41 into the third period. Kuemper held the fort from there before captain Mikko Koivu allowed him to breathe easier by scoring into an empty net with 34 seconds to play.
Kuemper's shutout gave Minnesota a league-best six on the season.
"When we got the one (goal), I was like now I need to get the shutout for my own sanity."
