The closing line is 113:29 for Keith Kinkaid following Saturday’s 4-0 win in Boston, the 71st of his eighth NHL career and the first since the Devils’ 3-0 win from Philadelphia on November 15th. , 2018.
“It’s definitely very rewarding,” said the 31-year-old netminder, who signed a two-year deal with the free agent with Rangers after spending most of last season in the AHL as a member of the organization. from Montreal after five seasons with New Jersey. “My season ended in March last year and I had a lot of training during the summer.
“I worked here with Benoit Allaire, there is a lot to do, but I knew that last year it was a coincidence and a little unfortunate situation, so there is a good atmosphere here. Everyone in this organization trusts me and I just want to prove to them that I can still play. I’m very pumped for that. ”
Kinkaid was promoted from the taxi crew on March 5 following Igor Shesterkin’s groin strain the night before. Alexandar Georgiev’s struggles opened the door for Kinkaid, who was unbeatable in two starts and two relegations, in which he compiled an average of 1.53 goals and a save percentage of .935 in 195: 55.
“He made the saves he had to make and he certainly made them on time,” said David Quinn about the performance of 18 saves in which Kinkaid was rarely tested. “You never win a game with 4-0 and you don’t have the goalkeeper’s contribution. He contributed.
“He is an NHL goalkeeper. We know that. You know you’re going to need depth this year – you need depth every year – and although it’s been a bit of a tough stretch for him in the last year and a half, I thought I signed a guy who could play in the National League of Hockey and help us, and he did. ”
The Blueshirts and Bruins each took a 0-for-5 in 9:16 in the power play, the Rangers getting eight shots with the human advantage, the Bs receiving five. While the first unit chewed time, Artemi Panarin started for 7:04, and Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad each passed over 6:30 and Ryan Strome just 10 seconds away, Filip Chytil was moved from the second unit.
Chytil got just 21 seconds to the man’s advantage, while Quinn left with a second drive from Pavel Buchnevich, Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere in front with Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller behind.
Brett Howden was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career in three years. The 22-year-old, who has played 113 consecutive games since returning from an injury at MCL on March 3, 2019, has two points and no goals in 25 games this season.
Julien Gauthier, whose game had been on the rise before Thursday’s game in Boston, swallowed it, as did almost all of his teammates, and was also scratched in the face.
Jack Johnson was scratched in defense while Anthony Bitetto was assigned to the taxi crew.
Blueshirts are home for a pair against Flyers Monday and Wednesday, before going to DC for a back-to-back against Caps on Friday and Saturday.