The goalie was injured late in the first period of a 7-3 win in Game 3 on Saturday, when the toe of Predators forward Ryan Johansen's stick blade poked through the eyehole of his mask.
The Avalanche can sweep the best-of-7 series with a win in Game 4 (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN1, TVAS2, BSSO, ALT).
Goalie Pavel Francouz will start, with
Justus Annunen
the backup. Annunen was recalled from Colorado of the American Hockey Leagu eon Sunday.
"Kuemper] is doing better, but his swelling's still there, so just not good enough," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.
***[RELATED: [Complete Avalanche vs. Predators series coverage]*
Johansen was battling with Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon at the edge of the crease, holding the blade of his stick below waist level. Kuemper was in his crouch and had his head low.
"Got real sick to my stomach there, just from looking back and seeing him skating to the bench and then dropping again," Johansen said Sunday. "It's not a good feeling."
Johansen said at first he didn't realize it was his stick that struck Kuemper.
"Obviously, I hope everyone knows there was zero intention of ever something like that happening," Johansen said. "Just a freak accident. But definitely put a smile on my face hearing that it could just be a little scratch and some swelling."
Johansen said he intended to reach out to Kuemper on Sunday but decided to leave him alone after hearing the injury wasn't serious.
"I think he knows it was an accident," Johansen said.
Kuemper is 2-0 with a 1.63 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in the series. Francouz allowed two goals on 20 shots after Kuemper's injury and got the win in Game 3.
Francouz and
Hunter Miska
were on the ice for practice Sunday; Kuemper did not skate.
The Predators' No. 1 goalie, Juuse Saros, remains out with a lower-body injury. He hasn't played in this series after leading the NHL with 67 starts in the regular season.
"He's skating, but limited," Nashville coach John Hynes said.
