New Jersey Devils: Top 5 Saves This Season

Number Four

Keith Kinkaid on Rick Nash, game 29

A 2-on-1 develops for the shorthanded Rangers as Kevin Hayes skates into the zone with Rick Nash. Will Butcher, the lone Devil back, is only trying to stop the pass, allowing Hayes a free shot at the net. In this scenario, the goaltender (Keith Kinkaid) is expected to only worry about the shot while the defender (Butcher) has the passing lane covered. However, Butcher does not execute well and allows Kevin Hayes’ pass to reach Rick Nash. The pass is right in the wheelhouse for Rick Nash who blasts a one-timer towards goal. Kinkaid is forced to dive across and stones Nash cold with an extraordinary glove save.

When you consider how much was working against Kinkaid on this play, the save becomes even more remarkable. First off, the two players on the 2-on-1, Hayes and Nash, are both extremely capable shooters and passers. Secondly, Kinkaid was only supposed to be focused on the shot, as Butcher was assumed to be blocking the pass. Furthermore, Rick Nash got all of the one-timer and put it in a great spot, and to top it all off, Kinkaid likely wasn’t expecting anything to develop in the first place since the Devils were on the powerplay. Still, Kinkaid managed to lunge across and rob an absolute blast from Rick Nash.