Darcy Kuemper was unable to start Tuesday's game against the Blackhawks due to a case of the stomach flu, Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Kuemper was unable to start Tuesday's game against the Blackhawks due to a case of the stomach flu, Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Analysis:

After several of the team's defensemen were casualties of the mumps virus earlier this season, it appears that the stomach flu is the latest bug to pass around the locker room. Both Jared Spurgeon and Charlie Coyle had dealt with the stomach issue in recent days, and Kuemper succumbed to the illness at some point Tuesday afternoon, limiting him to backup duties for the game. It didn't sound like his condition had improved much after the contest, so Kuemper figures to be on hand strictly as an emergency backup Wednesday against the Bruins.