Avalanche's Kuemper out for Game 4 vs. Predators due to eye injury

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper isn't starting Game 4 against the Nashville Predators due to the eye injury he sustained in Game 3, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Monday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Bednar said Kuemper's eye is doing well but is still swollen. The netminder left Game 3 late in the first period after Predators forward Ryan Johansen inadvertently put his stick through the netminder's mask.

The Colorado bench boss said postgame Saturday that Kuemper was a possibility to play Monday.

Pavel Francouz is starting in Kuemper's place. Colorado's No. 2 goalie entered the team's Game 3 victory in relief of Kuemper, stopping 18 of the 20 shots he faced in the 7-3 win.

The Avalanche enter Monday's contest in Nashville up 3-0 in the best-of-seven series.

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