“It’s a tough decision” – Colorado Avalanche in dilemma to pick between goalies Darcy Kuemper, Pavel Francouz in Stanley Cup Final

“It’s a tough decision” – Colorado Avalanche in dilemma to pick between goalies Darcy Kuemper, Pavel Francouz in Stanley Cup Final

Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz

The Colorado Avalanche are in a big dilemma ahead of the much-awaited Stanley Cup Final against the winner between the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning best-of-seven Playoffs series. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is fully healthy and available to play for the Avs in the ultimate game, but it’s not yet clear if he or Pavel Francouz will start Game 1.

The 32-year-old Kuemper started all but one of Avalanche’s first 11 postseason games before leaving in the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Czech ice hockey player Francouz relieved him in that game, followed by the next three as well where they swept the Oilers and reached the Final for the first time since 2001.

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“It’s a tough decision,” coach Jared Bednar said on Thursday, as quoted by NHL.com. “There’ll be conversations about it. We’ll make a decision and go from there.”

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“Never fun watching from the sideline”

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar

The Saskatoon native Kuemper, who backed up Francouz in Game 4, said there are no health issues. “[I’m] seeing [the puck] really good,” Kuemper said. “It’s all taken care of 100 percent.”

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“It’s never fun watching from the sideline, especially in big games, but ‘Frankie’ came in, did a great job,” he added. “It was great watching the guys go out there and get wins and handle the series, and it was nice to get back in the lineup for that last game and be a part of it.

“It’s always tough to watch from the sidelines and you want to be out there contributing, but when things are going well, as you said, and the team is winning, then you feel a lot more comforted by it, and you don’t have that regret that you’re letting anyone down.”

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