Move over mumps, there’s a new sickness in town.
It’s been about a week since we’ve heard of a Wild player missing time because of the mumps, but the latest illness making its way through the locker room seems to be a stomach ailment. The latest viral victims are goalies Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom. According to the Star Tribune, Kuemper was scratched from his start just two hours before the Wild and Blackhawks took the ice in Chicago on Tuesday night.
Niklas Backstrom replaced him in the 5-3 loss, but he, too, was dealing with the bug. Head coach Mike Yeo is hopeful Backstrom will feel well enough to start Wednesday’s home game against the Boston Bruins, but Kuemper definitely won’t play.
So the Wild called up John Curry from the Iowa Wild (AHL affiliate in Des Moines) to serve as Backstrom’s backup. Curry has a 3.11 goals-against average an a .911 saves percentage in 12 games this season.
Curry started in goal for the Iowa Wild Tuesday night and made an incredible stick save in the process. Check out the video from FanSided to see Curry make diving save with his paddle at about the :45 mark. It’s pretty insane he was able to stop what looked like a sure goal.
The stomach bug, which beat writer Michael Russo says gives players flu-like symptoms, has already hit defenseman Jared Spurgeon, but he could be back on the ice against Boston. He didn’t play against Chicago.
Note: Matt Cooke, who hasn’t played since suffering a lower-body injury in late-October, isn’t expected to play. He might be looking at a return to action Saturday when the Wild hosts Nashville.
Yeo @KFAN1003: No Matt Cooke tonight, still pointing towards Saturday vs NSH
— Kevin Falness (@RadioFalness) December 17, 2014
