{"id":26502,"date":"2018-04-04T12:41:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T16:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=26502"},"modified":"2018-04-04T17:01:39","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T21:01:39","slug":"keith-kinkaid-leading-the-charge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2018\/04\/04\/keith-kinkaid-leading-the-charge\/","title":{"rendered":"Keith Kinkaid Leading the Charge for the New Jersey Devils"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New Jersey Devils<\/a> have turned many heads this season. After missing postseason contention for the past six years, the Devils are on the brink of clinching a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The play of Taylor Hall<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> Kyle Palmieri<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> and even young gun Nico Hischier<\/a><\/strong> have all played a major role in the Devils success. But there is one player who has really stepped up and has been the cornerstone of New Jersey’s winning ways – goaltender Keith Kinkaid<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keith Kinkaid<\/a> Leading the Charge for the New Jersey Devils<\/h2>\n

Going into the 2017-18 NHL campaign, Cory Schneider<\/a><\/strong> was the Devils number one choice in between the pipes. As the season began and progressed, there was no argument as to why; Schneider has been the backbone of the Devils for the past several seasons, and this year he continued to fulfill this role. However, late January, Schneider was ill and missed some games. Right after that, he suffered a groin injury and missed a month of action. To step in for the injured netminder was backup Keith Kinkaid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Since Feb. 15, Kinkaid has posted some amazing numbers, going 15-3-1 with a .923 save percentage. This season as a whole, Kinkaid has played in 40 games, 37 of which were starts, and has posted a record of 25-10-3. He has a goals average against (GAA) of 2.82 and a save percentage of .911% as well as one shutout on the year. These stats say a lot, especially for a backup who was tossed into the fire, but most importantly is how calm Kinkaid has remained under all the pressure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was managing my body, managing my rest,\u201d Kinkaid told NorthJersey.com<\/a> regarding his workload since the Schneider injury. \u201cI felt maybe I\u2019d have to go on the ice a lot more. But it\u2019s more about off-ice preparation. At the beginning, I was trying to do too much. Then, I really learned more about the starting position in the NHL. You can see the last five, six games, I\u2019ve really come into my own. I\u2019ve really gotten comfortable with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Jersey Set to Return to the Playoffs<\/h2>\n

The Devils currently hold onto the first Wild Card slot in the Eastern Conference with a total of 95 points. They are one point better than the second Wild Card slotted Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>. With two games remaining in the regular season, it is safe to say that the Devils will indeed be clinching a berth in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

The Devils organization and their fans know what it is like to win and what success feels like. The past few years have been disappointing, but there is a new era in New Jersey, and the team knows that. As of right now, with the playoffs beginning Wednesday, April 11, Keith Kinkaid appears to be the go to for the Devils starting netminder. There has been no word yet who the Devils will actually be starting, but Kinkaid is the hot hand and has been on a tear.<\/p>\n

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#NJDevils<\/a> Keith Kinkaid post-game: "I think we\u2019re all motivated to get back in the playoffs and give the fans what they deserve, and give [ourselves] what we deserve."<\/p>\n

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) April 4, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n