1 bold prediction for each 2018 Stanley Cup playoff team

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 04: The Pittsburgh Penguins watch their 2017 Stanley Cup Championship banner rise to the rafters behind the Stanley Cup prior to a game agains the St. Louis Blues at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 4, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

9 of 16

NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 03: Keith Kinkaid /

New Jersey Devils

Cory Schneider will replace Keith Kinkaid at some point

The Devils will be going with goaltender Keith Kinkaid in net to start the playoffs because of the down year Cory Schneider has had. Given the Kinkaid played in front of him, he earned the opportunity to start to open the Devils’ series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Kinkaid was .913 this season and helped the Devils clinch their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since they made the final back in 2011-2012. But he won’t be the starter throughout the entire series, and Schneider will have to come in. Tampa Bay just has too much offensive firepower for New Jersey, and Kinkaid won’t be able to handle it all, especially with Steven Stamkos coming back. Him, combined with Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, will make things very difficult for Kinkaid. Schneider has only a little bit of playoff experience but it’ll be important for him to find his game in the series if/when he goes in.

Home/NHL Playoffs