It has been way too long for a Wild goaltending kerfuffle.
Darcy Kuemper, Monday's scheduled starter against the Detroit Red Wings, is a late scratch tonight because of an upper-body injury that must have been sustained during this morning's skate.
Devan Dubnyk, who sustained a cut to his right wrist during Sunday's practice that required six stitches, will start tonight and Niklas Backstrom will back up for the fourth time this month.
Kuemper stayed on the ice Monday morning the normal amount of time. Dubnyk and Backstrom actually stayed on the ice well after the skate was over but suddenly came off together.
In hindsight, I'm guessing Dubnyk had an idea he may be starting when we interviewed him because he almost seemed confused when asked if he'd be OK to back up.
Coincidentally, last Dec. 27 Kuemper was supposed to start against Winnipeg but got sick or food poisoning. Backstrom was also hurt, so John Curry got the start and lost in overtime against Winnipeg when an Andrew Ladd shot caromed off the glass, off Curry's back and in.
