New Jersey Devils: Top 5 Saves This Season
The Devils’ goaltending job has been a group effort this season, and along the way, there have been some jaw-dropping saves.
Entering the season, many pundits expected the Devils to be near the bottom of the season-end standings, and Cory Schneider was predicted to be the only thing keeping them afloat. The pundits, of course, were wrong about the Devils place in the standings (that’s why they play the game, as they say). Unfortunately, they were also wrong about Cory Schneider having another other-worldly season.
Cory Schneider’s 2017-2018 campaign has been one of the worst of his career. Various injuries have plagued him throughout the season, and his save percentage is a horrid (by his lofty standards) .909%. Aside from last season, Schneider had never had a save percentage lower than .921% in any season in which he played more than 8 games. Keith Kinkaid, on the other hand, has enjoyed a career year and has helped the Devils salvage middle-of-the-pack goaltending on the season (they rank 16th in the NHL in goals allowed per game).
Though Schneider has had a rocky season, he has shown flashes of greatness with spectacular saves, while Kinkaid has been dependable all year and stopped some shots which seemed like sure-goals. Here are the Devils’ five finest saves this season.
Honorable Mentions
Keith Kinkaid on Derek Ryan, game 57
The Hurricanes throw the puck on net, and after Kinkaid makes the initial save, Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan finds the puck with what seems like an empty net. Kinkaid lunges to make the save, stopping the puck with the hand of his blocker to preserve the one-goal lead (watch the play here).
Not only is this save spectacular, but how often do you see a goalie make a save with the blocker-hand? I am not sure I have ever seen a save quite like it.
Cory Schneider on Kyle Connor, game 68
Dmitry Kulikov rips a point shot and Kyle Connor deflects the puck right in front of the net. The puck slips through Schneider’s legs due to the deflection and rolls towards the goal line. As this happens, Schneider reaches back with his stick and wacks the puck away just before it goes into the net.
Not only does Schneider have the head to realize the puck snuck past him, but he keeps his cool and calmly turns around to hit the puck away from the goal. Vintage Cory Schneider.