Colorado Avalanche, 'definitely confident in both goalies,' yet to declare their starter for Game 1

DENVER — Darcy Kuemper will spend the night before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final waiting by his phone.

That's how the Colorado Avalanche goaltender will learn — via text message from the coaching staff — whether he or backup Pavel Francouz will get the all-important first start against the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night.

That's apparently how Colorado has communicated its goaltending schedule all season. Their system stays in place even now, on the eve of the Avalanche's first final appearance since 2001.

«We just usually get a text, and they'll let us know who is starting the next night,» Kuemper told reporters during Media Day on Tuesday. «I'm ready to go. For me, it's just sticking with the same routine, making sure your sharp in practice and treating it like a game situation, so that when the real game comes, you're ready to go.»

It's been a while since Colorado has seen competitive action. The Avalanche have been idle since June 6, putting a full eight days between sweeping Edmonton in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final and puck drop against the Lightning on Wednesday.

For Kuemper, the layoff has been even longer.

He suffered an upper-body injury in Game 1 of that series against the Oilers on May 31. It would hold him out until Game 4, when Kuemper backed up for Francouz. That was the second time Kuemper had been hurt in the playoffs (he also missed time with an eye injury in the first round), further impacting the rhythm he'd carried over from a successful regular season (37-12-4, .921 SV%, 2.54 GAA).

Kuemper won't discuss the details of his most recent injury but confirms he's 100 percent healthy now. The veteran admitted it was hard watching Colorado advance past Edmonton without contributing much.