Kuemper gets first shutout for Avalanche in win against Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. --Darcy Kuemper made 20 saves for his first shutout with the Colorado Avalanche, a 5-0 win against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on Saturday.

It was Kuemper's 21st NHL shutout and first since April 24, when he was with the Coyotes. Kuemper was acquired by the Avalanche in a trade July 28.
"There were more emotions on the side than I thought being back here, a lot of good memories," Kuemper said. "The guys played great in front of me. It was a fun night, and fun to finally get the shutout."
Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon each had two goals and an assist for the Avalanche (24-8-3), who are 7-0-1 in January and 12-1-1 in their past 14 games.
"To be able to put it all together for one night is good, and now we'll use that as sort of a benchmark for our team on how we want to continue to play," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said.

Rantanen has four three-point games in eight games since Jan. 1, the most in the NHL.
"It was probably one of our best games this year," Rantanen said. "That's what we talked about a lot, to play hard and defend well and that's how we create offense. And `Kemps' was really good. He didn't get too many shots, but he made some big stops."

Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves for the Coyotes (8-24-4), who have lost 13 of 17 (4-11-2).
"They're a really skilled team and they've got all-star forwards," Arizona defenseman Victor Soderstrom said. "They do the same thing every night and every team knows that in the league, and you've just got to try to keep up with it. We played hard around the net maybe half the game tonight, and that wasn't good enough."
Colorado's reunited top line of Gabriel Landeskog (assist), MacKinnon and Rantanen combined for seven points. Landeskog, who returned after missing three games in COVID-19 protocol, has scored 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in a 15-game personal point streak since Nov. 22.
Colorado swept the home-and-home series. It won 4-3 in a shootout at home Friday.
"We played a good game in there last night and I think we poked the bear a little bit," Arizona assistant coach Cory Stillman said. "They put their captain [Landeskog] back in the lineup and it changes their lines. It puts guys in the position they should be in. Landeskog comes in and the top line scores four goals, so that's the difference."

MacKinnon gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 13:13 of the first period when he carried the puck to the net undefended on a power play and scored on a backhand.
MacKinnon's shot on a 3-on-2 break got by Vejmelka and Rantanen swept it into the net at 10:49 of the second period to make it 2-0.
Nazem Kadri pushed it to 3-0 at 12:11 after Andre Burakovsky stole defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin's pass from beyond the goal line and fed Kadri in front.
Rantanen stole the puck from Clayton Keller to start a 2-on-1 and scored from the lower left circle for a 4-0 lead at 14:30, Colorado's third goal in 3:41.
"I thought we had a lot of really good players, from the goaltender on out, which is nice," Bednar said. "We started getting turnovers and helping the offense."
Arizona has been outscored 48-15 in the second period.
"It's been an issue for us," Stillman said. "I think what happens is sometimes we might overstay our shifts. We're not changing when we should, we're putting the pucks in the wrong areas. And when you do that, you play in your zone."
MacKinnon scored at 19:39 of the third period for the 5-0 final.
Kuemper had 10 shutouts in four seasons with the Coyotes.
"I think it was in everyone's mind, but we really didn't talk about it," Rantanen said of the goalie's return to Arizona. "I think he enjoyed it. It's probably a nice feeling to get the shutout against his old team, and I'm happy for him."
NOTES:Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny (COVID-19 protocol) missed his third game. Phil Housley and Stillman coached the team. … The Avalanche are 8-1-1 against the Coyotes the past two seasons. … Avalanche defenseman Ryan Murray (upper body), injured Friday, did not play. … Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar has scored eight points (two goals, six assists) during a five-game point streak.