Pucks and Pitchforks
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5 Realistic Goals For New Jersey Devils This Season

By Nick Villano

New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac (19) celebrates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers at 32 seconds of the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports
New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac (19) celebrates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers at 32 seconds of the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29): (Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports) /

Mackenzie Blackwood Hits A .920 Save Percentage

Mackenzie Blackwood may be out for now, but he should be back within a week or so. He was surprisingly put on the COVID-19 protocol list. This obviously impacted the Devils on the ice, as they put up an absolute dud against the New York Islanders.

Blackwood is obviously important to the Devils this season. He has the best save percentage of any goalie who’s faced at least 100 shots. Right now, he’s rocking a .948 save percentage over three games. Just to compare with a completely random goalie, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers has an .880 save percentage after five games.

So, asking Blackwood to keep up this pace is impossible. He’s not going to stop 95% of the shots he faces. The best save percentage of all time was Jacques Plante who stopped 94.4% of shots back in 1971. Brian Elliott has the modern era record, with a .940 save percentage in 2011-12. Let’s be a little more realistic in our goals.

Blackwood should be able to get to a .920 save percentage, and that should be enough to make the Devils competitive in every game. Last season, a .920 save percentage would be him in the top ten (of goalies who qualify). He’s been playing like a top-five goalie to start the year, but asking him to be a top ten goalie will make it a goal he can hit.

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