“Save by Kinkaid!”
Get used to those words from Devils broadcaster Doc Emrick. Sachem East alum and Farmingville native Keith Kinkaid made his NHL debut in net Tuesday night against the Lightening in a spot assignment off the bench.
“It’s a pretty good feeling, I can’t explain,” Kinkaid told reporters after the game. “It’s just one of those things you can’t explain, but hopefully there’s many more to come. I was shaking, tons of emotions going on with my family in the stands. Just to get that first taste of NHL hockey is surreal.”
The Devils replaced starting goalie Johan Hedberg after Lightening rookie Alexander Killorn put Tampa Bay up 3-0 at 13:13 of the second period. The home crowd of more than 15,000, including Kinkaid’s immediate family, roared as fans saw the future skate onto the ice before their eyes. Legendary Devils goalie Martin Brodeur is on injured reserve with back soreness
Kinkaid finished with 12 saves in his debut, his first off a shot from defenseman Sami Salo with 1:33 to play in the second. It was a breakaway save he made on Steven Stamkos, the NHL’s leading scorer, at the 1:08 mark of the third period that got the biggest rouse from the Devils’ faithful. After one fake by Stamkos, Kinkaid made a save with his left pad.
“I saw him break away,” he said. “I made him make the first move and stayed with him, that’s what they teach you here.”
Kinkaid’s appearance makes for the first time a goalie other than Brodeur or Hedberg played net for the Devils since December 2010.
He allowed two goals in the 5-2 loss. The first was off Nate Thompson on the eighth shot he faced in the game.
It has not been made official yet, but there is a strong possibility that Kinkaid will make his first NHL start on Thursday against the Sabres at home.
Kinkaid is the first Sachem alum to play in an NHL game. He is the third to be associated with an NHL team, however, after Craig Mischler (Sharks/Canucks) and Al Hodges (Devils).
He also now completes Sachem’s big four heritage, allowing for a Sachem alum to play in at least one NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL game, joining Neal Heaton (baseball), Jeff Ruland (basketball) and Jumbo Elliott (football).
At 23 to be named the heir apparent to the greatest goaltender in hockey history, it’s been a quick and unsuspecting ride for the Sachem alum thus far.
“It takes goalies longer to develop than players and they don’t want to rush it,” he said. “Any taste of NHL hockey right now is much more than expected.”
RELATED LINKS
- VIDEO: Watch Kinkaid’s post-game talk with reporters
- VIDEO: Watch Kinkaid’s breakaway save against Steven Stamkos
- VIDEO: Individual highlight films of all major saves
- ARTICLE: NJ Star Ledger game recap
- ARTICLE: Devils official game recap
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro