The Montreal Canadiens signed Keith Kinkaid in July to be Carey Price’s backup. After a tough October, how often will he be used in November? When will we see the backup get the start in goal?
The Montreal Canadiens were not happy with their number two goaltender last season. Antti Niemi struggled to give the Canadiens a chance to win when Carey Price took a night off. He allowed three goals or more in all but three of his starts last season and was all but given up on over the final two months of the season.
Price played almost every game from early February to the end of the regular season, and though he played well, that is not a recipe for success in the National Hockey League. Most of the best teams around the league have a solid tandem of goaltenders that they can rely on. The Habs were hoping to find that trustworthy number two last summer.
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They identified Keith Kinkaid as that guy early on in free agency and signed him early on to a one year contract worth $1.75 million. It was hoped he could play close to 25 games this season and give the Canadiens a chance to win those games while resting their star goaltender.
So far, Kinkaid has played three games, and the results haven’t been fantastic. He has a 1-1-1 record but has allowed 13 goals in those games, including allowing at least four goals in every game. He lost in overtime to the Buffalo Sabres 5-4, lost in regulation to the Minnesota Wild 4-3 and beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 in overtime.
That was his month of October. Just three starts, but how many games will we see him start in November? Well, he should continue to play basically once a week. If you look at the Canadiens schedule for the rest of November, they have 11 games. I could see Kinkaid suiting up for three games once again this month.
Kinkaid has played his entire career with the New Jersey Devils before signing with the Habs. He was technically a Columbus Blue Jackets member for the last few months of last season but he didn’t play any games.
The Canadiens just so happen to play both the Devils and Blue Jackets twice this month which gives ample opportunity to get Kinkaid onto the ice. The Habs schedule is pretty light to start the month so I would see Price starting the next four games. I would basically guarantee that Kinkaid’s next game will be against the Devils on November 16th. It is the second game on a set of back to backs and is against his former team.
The Habs then play another pair of games on consecutive nights on the 19th and 20th. They play the Blue Jackets before facing the Ottawa Senators at home. It would make the most sense to have Kinkaid play the Senators on the second of those two games.
I could then see Kinkaid suiting up against the Philadelphia Flyers to end the month. This is the first game of a set of back to backs as the Habs play the Boston Bruins on December 1st. I think it makes sense to leave Price fresh and ready to take on the division rival.
That gives Kinkaid three starts on the month. One against his former team, the New Jersey Devils, one against the lowly Ottawa Senators and one at the end of the month against the Philadelphia Flyers who are struggling a bit at the moment.
None of those teams have been scoring at a terrific clip this year so it would give Kinkaid a chance to build a little confidence and still give the team a chance to win when Price is sitting on the end of the bench.