'Yotes Notes: Kuemper Inks Contract Extension Before First Game

GLENDALE -- Darcy Kuemper, whom the Coyotes acquired via trade from the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, signed a two-year contract extension before dressing for his first game with the team on Thursday night at Gila River Arena.
"It all happened so quick," Kuemper said after his first morning skate with Arizona. "That was obviously very exciting, and I was very happy (because) they're showing a lot of commitment to me and a lot of confidence in me. I'm glad to be here and glad to be here for a couple more years. I'm excited to contribute to this young and up-and-coming team."

Kuemper, 27, served as Antti Raanta's backup vs. Calgary and watched his new team lose, 5-2, to end a season-long four-game winning streak. With home games vs. Anaheim and Vancouver set for back-to-back nights this weekend, Kuemper likely won't be a non-participant for long.
"We're going to take it one game at a time," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "'Rants' is playing really well. I don't want to wreck that ... but obviously Kuemper is here to play (too). He's not here to sit."
Kuemper posted a 10-1-3 record this season before the trade and a 2.10 goals-against average in 19 games, including 15 starts.
"I think he's a great goalie, from what I've seen this year," Tocchet said. "I don't know a lot about him, but when you have a big goalie that can move like that the sky's the limit ... I'm not saying he's going to be Matt Murray, but the way his body (is) and the way he moves out there, he looks like a little Matt Murray out there."
• Derek Stepan and Kevin Connauton scored goals for Arizona in the loss to Calgary, but their goals bookended five goals scored by the Flames.
It was a disappointing effort by a team that had four days off since its previous game.
"We were off as a group all night," Stepan said. "That happens in an 82-game schedule. I think we can do a better job managing it. Give them credit, when they got opportunities they scored. You've got to flush this one down and get ready for back-to-back (games) on the weekend."

• Raanta stooped just 33 of 38 shots by the Flames and lost for the first time since Feb. 6.
"I kind of felt like I couldn't make any of those big saves today," Raanta said. "Those first three goals are ones that, when you have (a good game), you're not going to let those in. I just need to refocus and get back to work tomorrow ... It would be easy to make excuses, but when you play at this level you need to make sure that you're ready to play. It doesn't matter if you have four days off or you're playing four days in a row."

• Connauton's goal was his sixth of the season and his fifth in the month of February.
• Max Domi took a game-high seven shots on goal in the game, his 200th in the NHL.
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson assisted on Stepan's goal to extend his point streak to three games.
"We didn't have it tonight," Ekman-Larsson said. "It's going to be tough to play in this league against teams battling for a playoff spot, so you've got to come right in and play every single night. That's what pros do ... It just felt like they wanted it more than us and that can't happen."
• The officials called 15 penalties in the game, and Arizona went 0 for 5 on the power play. It also allowed a shorthanded goal by Matt Jankowski early in the third period.
Tocchet said he could sense frustration when his team was playing with a man advantage.
"I saw some guys not working hard enough and taking it for granted," Tocchet said. "... For whatever reason, we were sluggish tonight."