Vanecek allowed four goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Akira Schmid midway through the second period of Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Islanders.
After getting beaten three times in less than five minutes in the second frame, Vanecek got lifted with the Devils in a 4-2 hole, only to see Schmid get the win in relief after a third-period comeback. Vanecek has given up four goals in three of his last four appearances, and his 4-3-0 record in November isn't supported by a rough 3.66 GAA and .867 save percentage. Given Schmid's 2.40 GAA and .917 save percentage in five outings this month, Vanecek's hold on the top job in the New Jersey crease appears very tenuous.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Starting versus Islanders
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Vanecek will protect the home goal Tuesday versus the Islanders, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Vanecek has allowed 12 goals over his last four games, going 2-2-0 in that span. The Islanders have been fairly pedestrian with 18 goals scored over their last six contests, giving Vanecek a chance to build some momentum after winning his last outing.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Barely tested in win
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Vanecek made 10 saves in a 7-2 win over the Sabres on Saturday.
The Devils scored early and often, punching in four in the first and never looking back. Vanecek is now 8-5-0 on the season with a 3.32 GAA and .884 save percentage. In his past six starts, Vanecek is 2-3-0 with 19 goals allowed on 114 shots. He'll need to find some stability to be a worthy fantasy option. The Devils will also need that if they are going to climb into a wild-card spot.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Likely to start Saturday
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Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate and is expected to defend the home crease versus Buffalo on Saturday, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports.
Vanecek has given up eight goals on 62 shots in a pair of losses over his past two starts. Overall, he has a 7-5-0 record this sason with a 3.43 GAA and an .886 save percentage. The Sabres are tied for 25th in NHL scoring, averaging 2.85 goals per game.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Gives up four in shutout loss
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Vanecek allowed four goals on 28 shots in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Red Wings.
Pulling Vanecek certainly had to cross coach Lindy Ruff's mind when the netminder surrendered three goals in the span of 1:12 late in the first period. Vanecek settled down and allowed only one more goal the rest of the way, but the Devils couldn't get back into the game and finished with just 16 shots on goal. The ugly defeat drops Vanecek's record to 7-5-0, while his 3.43 GAA and .886 save percentage leave much to be desired. He's allowed at least two goals in every appearance this season.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Starting in Detroit
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Vanecek will protect the road goal versus the Red Wings on Wednesday, Catherine Bogart of the Devils' official site reports.
Vanecek has had mixed results lately, going 2-2-0 with 15 goals allowed over his last five appearances. The Red Wings' offense remains strong with 21 goals over the last six contests, so Vanecek is likely to have his hands full in a game that could see some firewagon hockey.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Lead slips away
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Vanecek made 30 saves Saturday in a 5-3 loss to the Rangers.
He allowed four goals. Vanecek's mates staked him to a 3-2 lead early in the third period, but like so many times, he and the Devils couldn't finish. They came close, though. The Rangers tied things up at the 11:04 mark and then Jimmy Vesey backhanded the winner in at the 17:11 mark. Vanecek is 7-4-0 with a 3.38 GAA and .889 save percentage. He's allowed at least two goals in every appearance this season.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Starting versus Rangers
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Vanecek will guard the home goal Saturday versus the Rangers, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Vanecek has won five of his last seven outings, posting a 3.42 GAA and an .883 save percentage in that span. Those rate stats leave much to be desired, but the 27-year-old has still been better than Akira Schmid to maintain the starting job for the Devils. The Rangers have been off since Sunday and should be well rested for this Metropolitan Division clash.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Secures win over flightless birds
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Vanecek made 21 saves in a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Vanecek surrendered two goals to Bryan Rust. The first one came in the first period when the Pens' forward took a stretch pass and drove hard to the slot before shifting the puck to his backhand and roofing it over Vanecek's blocker. Rust tipped in a shot early in the second, and that was the end of the Pittsburgh offense -- the team didn't muster much effort beyond the two goals and the Penguins essentially beat themselves. Vanecek got the win, but it wasn't much of a test, and his 3.30 GAA and .889 save percentage are queasy at best. He's 22nd in the NHL in GAA and 24th in save percentage among goalies with 10 or more starts.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Expected to start Thursday
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Vanecek is expected to get the road start versus Pittsburgh on Thursday. according to Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff.
Vanecek got the night off Tuesday after starting seven of the previous eight games. Akira Schmid gave up five goals on 30 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Jets on Tuesday, so it's back to Vanecek on Thursday. Vanecek is 6-3-0 with a 3.45 GAA and .887 save percentage -- the Devils are having big problems keeping the puck out of the net. The Penguins are averaging 3.64 goals per game this season.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Gets early hook in Friday's loss
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Vanecek gave up two goals on only five shots before being replaced by Akira Schmid midway through the first period of Friday's 4-2 loss to the Capitals.
While Vanecek can't be faulted for not stopping the Nicolas Aube-Kubel one-timer that opened the scoring, Beck Malenstyn's tally only 15 seconds later prompted Devils coach Lindy Ruff to get out his hook. Vanecek has allowed seven goals on 36 shots over his last two starts since seeing a four-game win streak end, and on the season, the 27-year-old is 6-3-0 with a shaky 3.45 GAA and .887 save percentage. New Jersey doesn't play again until Tuesday in Winnipeg, but Schmid seems likely to be in the crease.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Tending twine Friday
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Vanecek will get the starting nod at home Friday against the Capitals, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Vanecek will face his former team for the second time this year; he was tagged with a loss after allowing two goals in relief during his first meeting with Washington on Oct. 25. The 27-year-old has been shaky this season, posting a 3.29 GAA and an .893 save percentage despite a 6-3-0 record. A matchup with the league's second-lowest scoring offense could help turn things around for Vanecek.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Takes third loss
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Vanecek surrendered five goals on 31 shots in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Avalanche. The sixth goal was an empty-netter.
Vanecek saw his personal four-game winning streak snapped as the Avalanche's offense bounced back from getting shut out three times in the previous four games. This was Vanecek's worst outing of the season so far, though he's allowed three or more goals in six of nine appearances. He's at a 6-3-0 record with a 3.29 GAA and an .893 save percentage. The Devils' next game is at home Friday versus the Capitals. Vanecek allowed two goals on 16 shots and took a loss in relief of Akira Schmid in his previous outing against Washington on Oct. 25.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: First off Tuesday
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Vanecek is expected to start Tuesday's road contest against Colorado after he was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Vanecek has stopped 108 of 120 shots during his four-game winning streak. He has a 6-2-0 record this season with a 3.05 GAA and a .900 save percentage through eight games played. Colorado sits 17th in the league with 3.10 goals per game this campaign.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Guarding cage Sunday
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Vanecek will start in Chicago on Sunday, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Vanecek is riding a three-game win streak but he's registered a lackluster .884 save percentage during that run. On the year, he's 5-2-0 despite a 3.21 GAA and an .893 save percentage. Vanecek has stopped a combined 54 of 59 shots while winning both of his road starts entering Sunday.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Wins despite allowing three goals
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Vanecek turned aside 22 of 25 shots in a 5-3 win over Minnesota on Thursday.
Vanecek earned his third straight win despite allowing 10 goals over that span. He has a 3.21 GAA and an .893 save percentage in seven contests this year, but that's still been good enough for a 5-2-0 record. Thanks to the Devils' top-tier offense -- they're averaging 4.22 goals per game -- Vanecek is likely to continue to rack up the wins even if he continues his sub-par play.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Receives third straight start
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Vanecek will protect the road goal versus the Wild on Thursday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Vanecek has solidified his spot atop the depth chart with three wins in his last four outings. He's allowed 11 goals over that span, with the lone loss coming in a relief appearance after a poor game from Akira Schmid. Vanecek's 3.24 GAA and .895 save percentage are nothing special, but he'll likely continue to see most of the starts as long as he keeps winning.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Makes 31 saves in win
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Vanecek stopped 31 of 34 shots in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Wild.
It was a solid outing from Vanecek after he allowed six goals on 43 shots over his previous two appearances. The 27-year-old netminder improved to 4-2-0 with an .895 save percentage on the season. Vanecek will likely be back between the pipes for a road rematch with the Wild on Thursday.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Tending twine Sunday
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Vanecek will be stationed between the pipes at home against the Wild on Sunday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Vanecek will make his fourth straight appearance for the Devils, with three of those being starts. The 27-year-old is 2-1-0 despite allowing eight goals on 72 shots over his last three outings. On the year, Vanecek has registered an .891 save percentage while going 3-2-0.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Yields four goals in win
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Vanecek stopped 23 of 27 shots in Friday's 5-4 win over the Sabres.
Vanecek let a couple of one-goal leads slip away, but he made a third one stand over the last 5:43 of the game. The 27-year-old has gone 3-2-0 with 15 goals allowed on 137 shots over five appearances this season. Akira Schmid has struggled in the backup role, but it's unclear if Vanecek will be able to string some starts together after the Devils have alternated their goalies in the early going. They're back in action Sunday at home versus the Wild.
