The Washington Capitals announced late afternoon on Saturday that they have sent goaltender Hunter Shepard back to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
Shepard was up with the team after being an emergency recall before the Capitals’ 6-0 defeat of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. Darcy Kuemper was unable to dress for that contest due to an illness.
NEWS | The Capitals have loaned goaltender Hunter Shepard to the Hershey Bears. https://t.co/WrU9XDoTkp
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 9, 2024
Kuemper was a full participant in the team’s morning skate on Saturday and will play backup to Charlie Lindgren against the Chicago Blackhawks. Kumper was previously supposed to start against the Penguins but Lindgren filled in there and pitched a 39-save shutout.
The Capitals made sure to quickly return Shepard to Hershey on paper before Friday’s 3 pm trade deadline so that he would be eligible for the AHL playoffs this spring. Shepard was then recalled immediately after the deadline just in case Kuemper was not well enough to skate on Saturday.
Forming a successful goaltending duo with Clay Stevenson this season, Shepard has been dominant when he has been handed the reins in the AHL, winning 21 of 26 games. The 28-year-old netminder has also posted a 2.00 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage, and two shutouts.
The Bears are currently in Charlotte playing the Checkers in the second half of a back-to-back. Clay Stevenson started the first game, a 5-3 loss. The team currently has Mitch Gibson up from ECHL South Carolina as the backup.
Here’s the press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Loan Hunter Shepard to Hershey
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned goaltender Hunter Shepard to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Shepard, 28, has a record of 2-1-1 with a 3.19 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage in four games with the Capitals this season. Shepard made his NHL debut and earned his first career win on Oct. 25 at New Jersey. On Nov. 11 against the New York Islanders, Shepard stopped 36 of 37 shots and was named the game’s First Star in a 4-1 Washington win. In 26 games with Hershey this season, Shepard has posted a record of 21-3-2 with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and two shutouts. Shepard ranks second in the AHL in in goals-against average, tied for third in wins and tied for sixth in save percentage.
Shepard appeared in 33 games with Hershey last season, posting a record of 20-8-5 with a 2.18 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and one shutout. The 6’0″, 219-pound goaltender ranked second among AHL goaltenders in goals-against average and tied for sixth in save percentage. Shepard, who was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs, started all 20 playoff games for the Bears,posting a 14-6 record with a 2.27 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage and three shutouts en route to the franchise’s league-record 12th championship. In 71 career AHL games with Hershey, Shepard has a record of 49-14-7 with a 2.05 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and five shutouts.
