New Jersey Devils: 5 Things To Watch In Week 4 Of Season

Cory Schneider Makes His Return

Cory Schneider finished his conditioning stint with Binghamton with so-so numbers. However, per NHL rules, he is required to make his return to the NHL roster after playing three games in the minors.

Schneider went 1-1-1 with an .897 save percentage. It’s not the most ideal stats you’d want from your starting goalie in the minors, but he did bounce back in a major way last night. Against the best team in the minors the Charlotte Checkers, Schneider gave up three goals on his first seven shots against. They all came on the power play, and the way both Devils teams have been taking penalties, things didn’t look good. He calmed down, and shut the door on the Checkers through regulation.

The big thing we were looking for was Schneider’s lateral movement. Seeing some of the saves the Devils are asking Keith Kinkaid to make, Cory will need to have elite movement in net to survive. Kinkaid looked elite early in the season, but after three straight losses, some fans are clamoring for Schneider to return. He likely will start as a backup depending on how the Devils do in Saturday’s matchup with the Panthers.

Schneider’s return is welcome, as the Devils now have two goalies they can trust. Especially if Schneider is truly fully healthy for the first time in a long time, it will be nice to have a 1A-1B situation in net. This starts likely on Sunday.