New Jersey Devils: Goalie Tandem Can Carry Them Through Season
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils have started the season with four wins in five games. The immaculate play of the goaltenders is helping them keep up the winning ways.
Keith Kinkaid was just amazing against the New York Rangers on Saturday night. He stood on his head in the first period, where the New Jersey Devils were outshot 14-3. It was an amazing performance on a night the Devils offense had trouble generating chances.
This performance comes off starting goalie Cory Schneider showing he’s shaken off a rough season in 2016-17. His .924 save percentage looks much better than last year’s .908 and about equal to what he did the two season prior.
Right now, the goalies have the ability to carry this team. The defense hasn’t been great, but much more serviceable than last season. Will Butcher has been great offensively, while not being dreadful in his own end. Steve Santini continues to show flashes of a good defenseman. Damon Severson had some great plays, including stopping Auston Matthews on a one-on-one chance. These are all places where the defense would have collapsed last year.
Schneider and Kinkaid deserve more credit for the Devils start. Sure, the offense has been exciting, but after two games against the Capitals and Rangers where the unit didn’t show up, the goalies become more important.
Schneider is still playing like starter of today and the future. Despite Kinkaid’s great effort on Saturday night, he still deserves a majority of the starts. He will carry this team on his back whenever he can.
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Schneider has a huge game today against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The teams come into the matchup on national television with matching 4-1-0 records. Tampa’s offense has been one of the best in the league, ranking sixth with 3.8 goals per game. Nikita Kucherov has scored in every game, including a beauty against the Detroit Red Wings. Last year, this would be an easy win for the Lightning. Thanks to a refreshed Schneider, the Devils come into this game as an equal.
The excitement for this season’s start would not be the same without the play of the Devils goalies. The offense is definitely better, but the back end is what’s going to make this season a fun one to watch.