The Capitals made some roster moves following their season opener with Darcy Kuemper ready to go.
The Washington Capitals made some roster moves on Saturday with Darcy Kuemper appearing back in the mix following the birth of his first child.
Washington recalled Aliaksei Protas from the AHL's Hershey Bears while re-assigning goaltender Clay Stevenson, who dressed as Charlie Lindgren's backup with Kuemper out for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Capitals fell 4-0.
Protas had to be sent down in order to make cap space for Stevenson, as he and Connor McMichael were the only waiver-exempt players on the roster. With McMichael on the second-line left wing, Protas was the odd man out, as Matthew Phillips was able to fill his third-line role with Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano.
Hershey opens its season on Saturday against the Belleville Senators, Ottawa's AHL affiliate.
Kuemper will likely start on Monday as Washington returns to action and looks to shake off the first loss of the season with a showdown against the Calgary Flames.